Reviews, Rants, and Old School Gaming
-- Description -- Bronze Age Adventure! Literature, history, and other reasons why antiquity is a good time to set your campaign - followed by some call ins! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Theme 01:07 - Bronze & Mud 02:58 - Appendix N: Classical Antiquity 07:50 - High Level Games & History Books 12:19 - Heroism in the Bronze Age 17:58 - Misconceptions: Bronze-Core, not Mud 22:02 - And That's About All I Have to Say About That 23:01 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Chainmail Bikinis: Mechanically 29:23 - Call In: M. W. Lewis - East Tennessee 32:05 - ...M. W.'s Flip DN Screen 32:33 - ...Player Trust & a Quality Table 36:01 - ...On Loincloth Barbarians 37:20 - Outro -- Links -- * Masters & Treasure Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/monsters-and-treasure/id1659703332 * Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 * Worlds of M. W. Lewis: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis - City of Kingsport: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/ - Foldy DM Screen: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HWLFE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
-- Description -- Does your campaign look like a Frazetta painting? Why not?! Make bikinis armor again: an exposé on the cultural reasoning behind playing a character who doesn't wear armor, but does like to get stuck in! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Thumbnail generated on https://www.craiyon.com -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:40 - Theme 01:00 - Historical Loincloth Barbarians 06:42 - The Bikini Armor Esthetic 08:26 - The Item Dependence Problem 11:01 - An Evolving Appendix N 18:51 - Whispers Concludes 20:29 - Call In: Bos - On Scaling 24:51 - Call In: Jason - GM Screens 26:21 - Call In: "Highway Star" M. W. Lewis - Kitchen Sink of Topics 37:35 - Outro -- Links -- MagicMan Meme - https://x.com/ejemek3/status/1818690382344962537 Down in a Heap - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/down-in-a-heap/id1446315881 Greek Marine Panoply Study - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soldiers-put-an-ancient-greek-suit-of-armor-to-the-test-and-it-passed-180984411/ Bos at Border Baronies - https://borderbaronies.bearblog.dev/ Nerd's Variety Podcast - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Worlds of M. W. Lewis - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis
-- Description -- The Dungeon Master Screen: do you use one? I do - but some other folks don't: why would they eschew this time-tested tool and why I think DM screens are great. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:08 - Theme 00:28 - The Dungeon Master Screen 01:19 - A Case Against: Transparency in Dice Rolls 02:18 - Some Rolls Should Be Secret 06:06 - What about the RAW? 08:19 - Rolling in the Open: A Guard against Fudge 09:18 - The ACTUAL Point of the DM Screen 13:04 - The Best of Both Worlds 13:40 - Some Secrecy is Good for the Players 15:07 - But What about Low Prep / No Prep? 17:25 - Call in: Red Dice Diaries John - Scheming Players & Fudging Dice 19:54 - Call In: Diagetic Advancement Riley - Active Defense 23:24 - ...A Final Word on Ghouls 24:08 - ...LBB-ified Thief vs Greyhawk Thief 25:32 - Ghouls! What constitutes a Touch? 26:43 - Why Specify a Wand of Paralysis? 29:20 - Where did Con-Based Resurrection Survival Come From? 30:52 - What actually IS Ghoul paralysis? 32:15 - Thank You, Callers, Listeners, and Other Interacters 32:45 - Outro -- Links -- Aug's Entirely Too Long Custom Screen: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2024/01/0e-reference-sheets.html Confessions of a High Prep GM: - Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/Confessions-of-a-High-Prep-GM-e2dr5lp - YouTube: https://youtu.be/3omIW4201EQ Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.bearblog.dev/ Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Wight Box: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/wight-box-original-medieval-fantasy-adventure-campaigns
-- Description -- Listeners call in to talk about time - some podcast friends call in and talk about timekeeping in their games as well as timekeeping in their lives: figuring out when to fit in the hobby and figuring out how to make the most of it while we're there; most in response to 1:1 Turn Tracking. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Daniel Norton, Bandit's Keep: Solo Gaming 01:17 - Encouragement from Whispers for Busy Gamers 05:35 - Daniel: Traps Attacking 06:48 - ...Magical Traps 08:30 - ...Mundane Traps 10:10 - ...Ability Scores and Traps 12:23 - Audio Quality Note 12:44 - Riley: On Timing Combat Rounds 13:58 - ...On Players Feeling Targeted 16:30 - ...But Isn't Turn Timing Adversarial Refereeing? 21:23 - Evil Jeff: What Kind of Game do you Want to Run? 27:12 - John Large: Time Tracking and Shadowdark 29:28 - ...On Life Getting in the Way: West Marches and Solo Games 30:43 - ...On Keeping Up with Podcasting 32:02 - Signing Off and Audio Retro 32:37 - Outro -- Links -- 1:1 Turn Tracking - Original Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/11-Turn-Tracking-e2k7r2k Bandit's Keep: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - YouTube Actual Play: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Evil Jeff: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.bearblog.dev/ Spike Pit: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/spikepit
-- Description -- Follow up episode - additional insights and answers, as pertaining to Ghouls and Ghoul Paralysis: less dangerous (or more?) than you think. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Show thumbnail was generated using Craiyon.com (http://craiyon.com/) -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Theme? 01:22 - Call In: D.A. Riley 06:12 - Call In: Pink Phantom 27:29 - ODD74 Perspective 30:59 - Call In: Daniel Norton 36:45 - But What Did Wight Box Say? 39:09 - Outro -- Links -- Wight Box: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/wight-box-original-medieval-fantasy-adventure-campaigns Diagetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Pink Phantom: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/phantomthoughts - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePinkPhantom Mr Wargaming AD&D Mass Combat: https://youtu.be/9OD484CsTBI ODD74 Thread: https://odd74.proboards.com/thread/462/ghoul-paralysis?page=2 Bandit's Keep: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - YouTube Actual Play: https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay
-- Description -- I had the distinct privilege over Father's Day weekend to meet up with Lungfungus - author of Actual Dungeon Mastering and the Melancholies & Mirth blog - to have a beer and chat about gaming until my wife dragged me home. Wash of topics - keep delving! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Theme 01:22 - Lunch with Lungfungus 01:40 - The Implications of Presenting a Map in VTT 05:06 - Tabletop Simulator for Chainmail 07:08 - Purple Prose in Text Game Prep 07:22 - Text vs Voice Experience with VTTs 09:43 - How's Been Gamin? (Wild West OD&D) 13:00 - The Wild West, Hex Crawling, and Challenging the Mapper 17:17 - On Being Lost and the Horizon 18:52 - Touch Grass; DM Better! 20:00 - Sight Lines 22:52 - Briefly Bloviating about Beer 23:31 - Flat Earth Elves 25:37 - Lost as Impeded rather than Lost as Lost 29:47 - Hex Maps as Mazes 34:11 - Influencing the Amount of Communication 36:21 - Granularity of Weather: Engaging with the Material Reality 38:30 - Where are the Hinges? 42:33 - Player Skill and Asking Questions: Diverse Application of Common Articles 44:26 - Reputation: How Fast does News Travel? 45:57 - Great Lakes Scale 46:38 - Random Castles, Random Lairs, & PVP Chainmail 48:00 - Incorporating Hex Characteristics as Resources to Manage 50:29 - Thank You, Lungfungus! 51:43 - Outro -- Links -- Melancholies and Mirth - https://melancholiesandmirth.blogspot.com/ OSR Simulacrum - https://osrsimulacrum.blogspot.com/ Gucci Fuligan Cloak - https://guccifuligincloak.blogspot.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/@gfcsdnd205 Luke Gearing - https://lukegearing.blot.im/
-- Description -- Do you time your players' actions in combat? You should! And here are three reasons why - from my table to yours, direct through the earbuds. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - 1:1 Turn Tracking 00:22 - Intro 00:45 - How long is a turn? 02:01 - Basic Method: Counting Seconds 05:32 - Eliminates Hesitation: Keeps Things Moving 09:38 - Helps Participation: Keeps Players Paying Attention 13:49 - Helps Immersion: Feels Chaotic 17:10 - Conclusion and Call-Out 20:26 - Outro -- Links -- Immersion: Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Immersion-e1jqhfr YouTube - https://youtu.be/L8ajqIMJPbA
-- Description -- Ghouls - the iconic paralyzers and low-level party enders: capable of wrecking shop even on a mid level party! Or... are they? I revisit the rules as worded and cross reference them to concepts in Chainmail, revealing that in 0e, at least - Ghouls might not have been as powerful as they would, in later editions, become. Then, some call-ins regarding adversarial play (among which is a great example of adversarial play from Daniel over at Bandit's Keep) and a concept (new, to me) of treating traps like monsters - at least where THAC0 is concerned. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Ghouls: Not as Scary as you Think 00:18 - Theme 00:39 - Ghouls in the Little Brown Books 02:09 - "Normal" Figures 03:46 - Wights in Chainmail 06:18 - An Introduction to Moldvayan Revisionism 07:51 - Save vs Paralysis in the Text 09:13 - What About Withstand Adversity? 14:22 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Reliability 17:28 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason - Traps as Monsters 19:19 - Traps as Monsters of HD Equal to Dungeon Level 21:08 - Call In: DA Riley - Episodes, Life, and Listening 23:34 - Call In: Bandit's Keep Daniel - A Tale of Adversarial Play 30:23 - Call In: Bob - Enjoying the Surprise of a Plotting Player 33:08 - Outro -- Links -- The Basic Expert: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBasicExpert Wight Box: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/473031/WightBox-Original-Medieval-Fantasy-Adventure-Campaigns Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Nerd's Variety Blog: https://nerdsrpgvarietycast.com/ Diegetic Advancement: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement/ Bandit's Keep: - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton - https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep - https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeepActualPlay Bos' Bear Blog: https://borderbaronies.bearblog.dev/
-- Description -- Call in show - listeners debate the fine points of adversarial play, as well as toss in some tokens for how prep influences their games - or vice versa: how their games have influenced their prep. Then - at the end - a quick promised health and sanity update from me for folks who were listening and concerned as of last time around. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:21 - Jason: Feedback on Classic Adventure Gaming 04:38 - Jason: On Adversarial Gaming 11:32 - Riley: Conspiratorial Players 18:14 - Mirke the Meek: Adversarial Play and Representing the Table 24:22 - Karl: Evolution of Your Campaign 28:22 - Riley: Regarding Prep and Story Games 31:36 - Mirke: Experiences with Prep 36:46 - Personal and Health Update 48:56 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Jason - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Evil Jeff - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff Jason Hobbs - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Riley - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diegeticadvancement Mirke - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mirke-the-meek Karl - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez
-- Description -- Talking about prepping for your game. How much is too much? How much is too little? And how much can you learn from the mistakes of someone who has gone entirely off the deep end before? Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Prepper's Anonymous 00:09 - Theme 00:39 - On Campaign Prep 02:51 - Advocating for Zero Prep 05:15 - Why Then do I Prep? 12:18 - The Dangers of Too Much Prep 16:40 - Prep According to your Play 17:35 - Side Note on the Joy of Prep 21:58 - At the End of the Day... 22:24 - Outro & Theme -- Links -- Just Three Hexes: https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com/2017/11/just-three-hexes-campaign-starters.html
-- Description -- Having spent some time figuring out adversarial referees - what would then make a player an adversarial player? Exploring some experiences, ideas, and behaviors that may - or may not - make a player into an enemy instead of an ally. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Adversarial... Play 00:43 - Theme 01:13 - Player vs. Referee 01:40 - Rules Lawyering? 04:25 - Munchkining (Rules Abuse)? 08:08 - Derailing? 14:53 - Player vs Other Players 15:05 - PvP? 20:30 - Filibuster your Friends? 26:36 - In Conclusion 29:12 - For Next Time 30:16 - Outro & Theme -- Links -- * Kalmata: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJihWQoKqzZdxeL1LHkr-YJ_hewIFOyx * Karl of the GMologist Presents: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez * Secrets of Brovenloft: https://youtu.be/A5QdvJDLUvM?si=b45eAgZ-hPZ_zm-o
-- Description -- "I've been playing for 45 years and we never played that way back in the day!" A common refrain for long-timers trying to discourage playstyles differing from their own, I explore the possibility that the arguer might be remembering yesterday just as much as 1975. Then, following up, a note on my personal health, how it's been holding me back a bit from participating in the hobby like I want to, and what I'm doing about it to fix that problem. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Dedication 00:12 - Theme 00:42 - Did you really? 01:51 - Playing with Chainmail 04:47 - First Edition for the First Time 06:21 - Playing Multiple Games 08:08 - Learning and Growing 10:31 - Call In: Nerd's Variety Jason! 10:54 - Health Update 20:55 - Outro -- Links -- Obituary: Aaron M. Koelman https://www.gearty-delmore.com/obituary/Aaron-Koelman Solo Dungeon Crawler: OD&D Combat with Chainmail https://youtu.be/5vLp5gtfDTw?si=D5I5X8c88TXpltLU Nerd's Variety Cast https://anchor.fm/jason376
-- Description -- Happy Thanksgiving! Catch up and call in episode: talking about mercenaries, advancement, but mostly - maps, tokens, and VTTs. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - I'm Still Alive! 00:52 - ANNOUNCEMENT: Adventure Site Contest 02:37 - Theme 03:07 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Renown System 06:02 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: Mercenary Players? 14:47 - ...: On XP in OD&D 21:45 - Gamerhood Jason: The Map is Reality 25:27 - Nerd's Variety Jason: VTTs are the Devil! (On Token Control) 29:51 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: On Battle-Maps and Tokens 33:35 - ...: Map... as a Character! 35:36 - Where Are You Whispers? Update on Life & Empire 38:17 - Outro -- Links -- Cold Light Press: https://coldlightrpgpress.weebly.com/home/spread-the-wordadventure-site-contest Classic Adventure Gaming Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tcagp Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep Hobbs, Friends, & Gamerhood: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs https://www.twitch.tv/hobbs665
-- Description -- User feedback focused on the use of maps - in the campaign, in the dungeon, in real life, and in virtual - as well as the implications of maps and all of the above on hirelings and henchmen. Bit of a variety show - very relevant to the OSR player experience. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Cockatrice Nuggets and the NPC Player 00:39 - Intro 01:09 - Why Play? (On NPC Players) 01:46 - Roles & Henchmen with Hobbs 05:57 - Role vs Role (vs Role) with Daniel 09:51 - Using Henchmen (and Miniatures For Them!) with DarkFluid 16:27 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Maps, at least, are RAW 19:16 - Bandit Maps! Making, Ciphering, and Using Maps with Daniel 25:47 - Maps & Ciphers with the Pink Phantom 29:34 - Pink Scroll Cases? (Guarding them, at Least) 31:34 - Hobbs Asks: Who Controls your VTT Map Tokens? 35:37 - Outro -- Links -- Cockatrice Nuggets: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rich-fraser Jason Prime: Hobbs & Friends: https://hobbsnfriends.com/ Random Screed: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Bandit's Keep Daniel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton The Pacific Crest Trail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail Audio Dungeon Discord: https://discord.gg/FBP7CjA6G (Valid through Rosh Hashanah) Nerd's Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Phantom Thoughts (Pink Phantom): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom
-- Description -- Listener feedback exploring character advancement - first, talking a bit about gold for XP, classic D&D, and how procedural generation facilitates OSR dungeon design and frees your mind to make more interesting experiences; and then, moving into alternative advancement: not alternative mechanisms, necessarily, but new ways to interpret and play out character advancement in your old school campaign. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - D14s 01:14 - Intro 01:44 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Golden Railroads 06:19 - Jason Prime: On Gold and Experience 09:00 - ...Layers of Play: Character Layer vs Design Layer 10:20 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: Procedural Generation and Scroll Cases 11:46 - Red Dice John: General Feedback and the Benefits of Procedural Generators 15:16 - Call In! Nick from DSTP - Substitutionary Treasure 20:33 - Hindsightless Joe: Isn't it All Milestones? 24:05 - Chicago Wiz Michael: Beyond Advancement 33:13 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Hobbs & Friends Hobbs: Hobbs & Friends: https://hobbsnfriends.com/ Random Screed: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton The Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.substack.com/ Don't Split the Party: Blog: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/vgDF6QZ Hindsightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/ Chicago Wiz: https://chgowiz.substack.com/
-- Description -- Vanishing Tower Jay is back to defend his honor! Spar once more with the metaphorical mapper: where he makes his case once more for maps as communication tools - not as physical artifacts! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Murphy Strikes Back! 00:31 - Theme 01:01 - Real Life Maps Don't Translate 01:40 - Purchasing Maps? 02:49 - Maps and Inaccuracy 04:04 - Alternative: Hiring Guides 05:03 - Treasure Maps 06:45 - On Getting Lost 08:27 - To Conclude on Maps as Physical Artifacts 08:48 - Call In! Bandit's Keep Daniel: Mapping from Beads 13:47 - Call In! Pink Phantom: Lost Maps and Player Notes 16:28 - Call In! Bandit's Keep Daniel: Con Games 21:29 - Quick Apology and Quicker Thank You 22:52 - Outro -- Links -- Jay, Vanishing Tower Press: https://vanishingtower.blogspot.com/ Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vanishingtowerpress2786 Daniel Norton, Song of The Mapper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSmx06Tb47U&list=PLLWlyyPUNLSxVSJUJ5hxyqKMDZnE5LQ9M Rick Stump Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/episodes/Regarding-Player-Skill-e1mse9p A Real Treasure Map - Olivier Levasseur: https://explorersweb.com/exploration-mysteries-treasure-olivier-levasseur/ Daniel, Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton Phantom Thoughts, the Pink Phantom: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom
-- Description -- There has always been a divide between Role Players and Roll Players - but what about Role Players and Players of a Role? This episode delves in to what "role playing" meant - or would have meant - to the original crew on the original game... and how it differs from what we think of when we say "role playing" today. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - The Role Divide 01:16 - Theme 01:46 - The Role You Serve 03:56 - The Role of the Fighter 06:03 - The Role of the Cleric 08:29 - The Role of the Magic User 10:50 - Bob the FIGHTER, not BOB the Fighter 12:18 - The Proof is in the Training 15:17 - Should You Speak in Funny Voices? 16:26 - Call In: The Trapper of Scroll Cases Speaks! 17:00 - ...Emergent World-Building through Procedural Generation 20:15 - Call In: Bos Bossman - Crunch & Flow 20:46 - ...Character Customization & Archetypal Dynamic 24:04 - ...The Benefit of Predictability in Maintaining Flow 25:45 - The Calls of M. W. Lewis! 26:01 - ...for Love of Henchmen 30:08 - ...on The Rogue's Gallery 32:08 - Outro -- Links -- Don't Split The Party, Roles: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/search/label/monks Mr Hobbs: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs Splitting the Party with Procedures: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2021/08/do-split-party.html The Worlds of M. W. Lewis: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mwlewis/ The Rogue's Gallery: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=tsr+the+rogues+gallery
-- Description -- A call from the Pink Phantom posits a true conundrum. Does gold for XP create a creative railroad for player interaction? Listen on to hear my defense of Gold for XP as the ultimate de-railer. Then, some call ins on recent episodes in the podcast-verse! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Pink Phantom: Stylistic Railroading 01:00 - Theme 01:30 - Gold is the Anti-Railroad 02:40 - Collaborative Failed Novelist Syndrome 04:00 - A Case for Gold 04:40 - Archetypes and Inspirations of Appendix N 05:53 - Stylistic Paradigms: why NOT Gold? 09:23 - Liberation of Advancement 09:54 - Pink Phantom: There is no Winning or Losing at RPGs 11:07 - You Can Win at the Clerics Wear Ringmail table! 12:02 - Nerd's Variety Jason: On Milestones 15:28 - GMologist Karl: Handfuls of Dice 17:45 - ...on Lookups and Running DCC 21:50 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: The Identify Spell! 34:24 - ...on Gary and Sages 26:32 - ...on Scroll Cases: Trap 'Em or Lock 'Em? 31:32 - Outro -- Links -- Phantom Thoughts, Pink Phantom: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-pink-phantom How to Win at D&D: https://pilumpress.com/products/how-to-win-at-d-d Nerd's Variety Podcast, Jason: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 The GMologist Presents, Karl: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Bandit's Keep, Daniel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton Gary's House Rules, Blogosphere: http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/03/gary-gygaxs-whitebox-od-house-rules.html Gary's House Rules, OD&D '74: https://odd74.proboards.com/thread/3906/gygax-house-rules-2005 Gary's House Rules, Dragonsfoot: https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43849 Car Alarm: https://improbable.com/2023/01/18/a-look-back-at-the-prize-winning-anti-hijacking-flamethrower/
-- Description -- Exposition on the importance of gold for experience, and a quick glance into the method behind the madness. Simply put: Gold for XP is the Best Way to Be. Then some miscellaneous user calls - pacing, mapping, and adversarial preparation! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - GP for XP? 01:25 - Theme 01:55 - The Weight of Milestones 03:07 - Experience as a Motivator 04:18 - How you "Win" at D&D 05:17 - The Essential Importance of GP for XP 08:13 - Call in! GMologist Karl on Adversarial Prep 13:39 - Call in! Nerd's Variety Jason regarding Pacing in the Dungeon 15:35 - Call in! CapnCarberry from Discord! 15:47 - ...Deceive the Enemy 16:26 - ...Mapping by Pace and Ranger Beads 17:26 - ...Knowing what to Bring and How to Use It 18:30 - Outro -- Links -- The GMologist Presents (Karl): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Nerd's Variety Podcast (Jason): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376
-- Description -- Further discussion as requested and as recieved in prior episodes: what's more important - crunch or flow? Some insights and experiences from listeners. Part two of call-in/response. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast ...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Jason's Experiene with Crunch & Flow 06:16 - Bandit's Keep Daniel on the Rebrand 07:05 - ...and Speaks to Flow and New Players 10:35 - ...and Defends Page Flipping? 13:54 - Free Thrall: To OSR or Not to OSR 19:08 - Daniel on Appropriate Traps and Curses 22:09 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Varity Podcast (Jason): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep (Daniel): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton/ Monsters & Treasure: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monsters-and-treasure Keep Off the Borderlands (Spencer): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/free-thrall
-- Description -- Stirred up some interest with the mapping episode! Y'all called in, so the conversation continues! Part one of three podcast episodes: so if you hear someone sounding like it's not their first call; it's probably because it's not! But I tried to group the calls by theme to keep the conversation cohesive. Listen on - and don't forget the map along the way! Passionate, as well, and want to get in on the conversation, yourself? New! Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast Or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Nerd's Variety Traffic 00:27 - Theme 00:57 - Cohost Variety Jason 01:37 - Free Thrall's In-World Map 04:30 - Hobbs Talks Min-Maxing, Optimization, and Mapping? 06:50 - GMologist Karl: Mapping In Real Life 14:08 - Daniel the Bandit: Would your Map Survive a Fireball? 17:59 - The Pink Phantom - Rebrand and Identify? 24:26 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Varity Podcast (Jason): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Keep Off the Borderlands (Spencer): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/free-thrall Mr. Hobbs' Gamerhood (Jason Prime): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs The GMologist Presents (Karl): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez The Mystery of the Bent Tree: https://www.mountainmirror.com/happenings/straighten-out-the-mystery-of-bent-trees Bandit's Keep (Daniel): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton/ Monsters & Treasure: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monsters-and-treasure
-- Description -- New topic, new name, same spirit! Talking gaming, there is a perpetual debate between how many rules you need or how much crunch you prefer - but are we asking the wrong question? Do we actually care about the mechanics of the game, or do we care about the way it handles at the table? Then - some voicemail conversation: folks are interested in maps, drawing maps, and whether or not they should be taken away! Passionate, as well, and want to get in on the conversation, yourself? New! Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast Or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ ...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro & State of the Podcast 05:38 - Theme 06:08 - Crunch... or Flow? 12:31 - Flow in ACKS 17:06 - Flow in DCC 23:33 - What do y'all think? 24:24 - Call In! Ricardo the OSR Lurker on Min-Maxing 28:51 - Call In! Nerds Variety Jason will Take Your Maps 36:07 - ...but will he trap your scroll cases? 38:54 - ...an epiphany about scroll case traps 40:01 - Call In! First Time David: Maps as a Player Tool 46:29 - Call In! Bandit's Keep Daniel 49:56 - Outro -- Links -- Monsters & Treasure: How Simple is Too Simple? https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monsters-and-treasure/episodes/How-simple-is-too-simple--Game-design-chat-e206no6 ACKS - https://www3.autarch.co/?page_id=128 DCC - https://goodman-games.com/dungeon-crawl-classics-rpg/ Hobbs' Gamerhood: - https://discord.gg/d6BmmAa - https://hobbsnfriends.com/ - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-hobbs - https://www.youtube.com/@JasonHobbs - https://www.twitch.tv/hobbs665 Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Bandit's Keep: - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton/ - Solo OD&D: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLWlyyPUNLSxVSJUJ5hxyqKMDZnE5LQ9M
-- Description -- Finishing up the feedback from the call backlog - the last of the OctOSR and some new calls between then and now. Generating more questions than we answer, but that'll keep the conversation going! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Listen on and join the conversation! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Campaign Fortitude 06:42 - Hobbs Himself! Adversarial Play? 08:54 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Play vs Prep 13:41 - Vanishing Tower Jay: Player Maps 18:08 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Campaigns vs One Shots 21:23 - ... and: Mapping Tips 24:29 - Karl the GMOlogist: Adversarial PvP 30:21 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Expectations 32:11 - Thank you, listeners 33:49 - Theme -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Hobbs & Friends: https://hobbsnfriends.com/ Random Screed: https://anchor.fm/jason-hobbs Vanishing Tower: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vanishingtower The GMologist Presents: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez PVP Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez/episodes/The-Good--the-Bad--and-the-Ugly-of-PvP-in-RPGs-e1udr2a PVP Follow Up Episode!: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez/episodes/PvP-in-RPG-Feedback-e20iep8 Player Skill Episode: Rick Stump Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Regarding-Player-Skill-e1mse9p Rick Stump: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/ Bandit's Keep: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-norton/
-- Description -- What is the difference between building a character and building a character? What do your players expect out of you - out of your game - and how does it impact how you run? Several callers with several more calls - including a new one; recorded this year and everything! - regarding these questions and more. Listen on and join the conversation! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - The GMologist Presents: World Balance and Overcoming the World 03:50 - Balancing Expectations 06:01 - Redcaps Kevin - Abstract Combat-Fu and Fair Adjudication 08:10 - Metagaming Referee... or Smart Monsters? 10:57 - Metagaming Referee... to benefit the players? 13:24 - Nerd's Variety Jason - the Moose Head! 16:28 - GraveSlugg's Multiple Characters in the Ash Coast 18:59 - Nerd's Variety Jason - Finding a Group 23:10 - J. E. Shields: Min-Maxing, or Specialization? 27:01 - TSR Role Play vs Modern Role Play 28:22 - Min-Maxing: The Quest for Power 32:10 - Outro -- Links -- The GMologist Presents (Karl) - https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez The RedCaps (Kevin) - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theredcaps/ Nerd's Variety Podcast (Jason) - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 J. E. Sheilds - A Grazing Mace: https://anchor.fm/agrazingmace JEShields.com: https://jeshields.com/ Mazes in the Mountains: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2022/12/mazes-in-mountains-hex-exploration-as.html
-- Description -- In a back and forth, conversational style exchange with author and artist Jeshields, we tackle adversarial play - ranging from DM to Player interacts to, more importantly, Player to Player and Human to Human. Also spicing things up with some Plot & Story in the middle with Daniel Norton of Bandit's Keep. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation? Hit me up on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - J.E. Sheilds - Traps and Trap Finding 06:49 - Passive Perception 13:13 - Disrespecting Players: Adversarial Play 22:50 - Bandit's Keep Daniel - Plots and Story! 26:34 - Jeshields again - On Taking Offense 29:40 - Identity 30:30 - Outro -- Links -- J.E. Shields: A Grazing Mace: https://anchor.fm/agrazingmace JEShields.com: https://jeshields.com/ Karl Rodriguez, The GMologist Presents - https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez Bandit's Keep (Daniel): https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton/
-- Description -- Mapping! An essential part of the OSR experience - by request, how do I - as a referee or game master - how do I describe rooms and hallways in an in-person or Theater of the Mind game so as to empower the mapper? Starting off with a handful of call ins - starting with crispy burned goblins and working our way through to tactics and reading the rules: listen on for my answer - how this referee handles corridor and room descriptions. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation? Hit me up on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Alchemist's Fired Goblins 00:20 - Theme 00:50 - Confirmation that at Least One Story is True 01:13 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Party v Monster Tactics 05:05 - Evil Jeff: Reading (and Re-Reading) Rules 11:12 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Edition Muddle 14:27 - Jeshields: Table Manners 17:43 - Jeshields: Multiple Games or Ongoing Campaign? 22:15 - Main Topic: Mapping from the Other Side of the Screen 30:41 - Outro -- Links -- Nerd's Variety Podcast (Jason): https://anchor.fm/jason376 Minions & Musings (Evil/Old Jeff): https://anchor.fm/eviljeff J.E. Shields: A Grazing Mace: https://anchor.fm/agrazingmace JEShields.com: https://jeshields.com/
-- Description -- Henchmen, Combats, Battles, and Balance! OSR and OSR-Adjacent commenters build on the OctOSR conversations surrounding several key topics which don't frequently function in the modern experience as they are written in the original books. Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation? Hit me up on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Red Dice Diaries John: Henchmen, Loyalty, and Battlefields 04:31 - The Pink Phantom: Seeking Mass Combats? 10:41 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Controlling Hirelings 15:45 - Bandit's Keep Daniel: Investing in Henchmen 18:16 - Red Dice Diaries John: Wilderness Is as Wilderness Does 20:15 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Smart Enough to Run Away 25:32 - Game Balance and OSR 29:42 - Outro -- Links -- Red Dice Diaries: https://reddicediaries.bearblog.dev/ Phantom Thoughts with the Pink Phantom: https://anchor.fm/the-pink-phantom/ Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Bandit's Keep: https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton/
-- Description -- Further responding to calls and conversations between October of 2022 and today. Couple recurring heroes mixed in with a new voice! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation? Hit me up on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Bandit's Keep Daniel on Heroes 06:46 - Hindsightless Joe: No Chop Busting? Talking super-heroics! 09:04 - Claw Claw Rend: Healing and Healing Magic 14:02 - J. E. Shields: Beginning of a Good Thing 16:11 - Clear-ics? 17:27 - Serving a Greater Good 25:23 - Not a Genie God 31:48 - Outro -- Links -- Claw Claw Rend - I can't find you on Anchor or Google Podcasts? Anyone? Daniel (Bandit's Keep) - https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton/ Jeshields (James Shields) - A Grazing Mace: https://anchor.fm/agrazingmace JEShields.com: https://jeshields.com/ Joe (Hindsightless) - https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/
-- Description -- Finally an episode! Kicking off season three with responses to the massively successful OctOSR podcast and media drive from October of last year. Wide range of topics - some of which you may not even need to re-listen to the OctOSR episodes to contextualize! Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/ Want to get in on the conversation? Hit me up on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message ...or come hang out with the gang on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn And whatever you do, delve on! -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Theme 00:30 - Nerd's Variety Jason Rambles about Gaming; I ramble about Life 08:10 - Redcaps Kevin & Rules Lite Games 12:13 - Hindsightless Joe: Chop-Busting Part 1 13:56 - James Shields & The Impact of Player Mapping 23:59 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Rulings, House Rules, & Complexity 28:13 - Nerd's Variety Jason: Outside the Character Sheet 32:24 - Outro -- Links -- Jason, Nerd's Variety Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Chainmail with Cerebrevore, Part 1: https://anchor.fm/cerebrevore/episodes/S1E12-Using-Chainmail-with-ODD-e1ngvtg Chainmail with Cerebrevore, Part 2: https://anchor.fm/cerebrevore/episodes/S1E22-Chainmail-Part-Deux-e1s51d2 Kevin, The Redcaps Podcast: https://www.theredcaps.net/ Joe, Hindsightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/ Jeshields (James Shields): A Grazing Mace: https://anchor.fm/agrazingmace JEShields.com: https://jeshields.com/ GFC's DnD, Mapping Conventions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prijsOI3xWs
-- Description -- Responding to a thought by Daniel at Bandit's Keep regarding plot. Then, answering a couple call ins - old and new - by James of MindWeave and Jason of Nerd's Variety Cast. -- Show Notes -- 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Theme 01:19 - What is Plot? 04:25 - What is Narrative? 08:00 - What is the Living World? 14:41 - The Role of the Plot in the Campaign Game 16:26 - Call Ins: MindWeave James! 22:21 - Call Ins: Whole 'lotta Jason! 33:13 - Outro 33:52 - Theme & Legal -- Links -- Daniel's Plot Episodes: 1. https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton/episodes/Why-is-Plot-a-Dirty-Word-in-the-OSR-e1rq24v 2. https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton/episodes/More-on-Plot-and-The-OSR-e1s0vjr Mindweave James: https://mindweaverpg.wordpress.com/ Nerd's Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 https://anchor.fm/cerebrevore/
- - Description - - Answering a prompt from a friend of the show about guilds: why you should hate them too. Disagree? Drop me a voicemail! https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Theme 01:23 - Expanding the (OSR) Anchorverse 04:01 - Community and Civility 06:52 - Main Topic: GUILDS and Why they will Ruin your Game 08:00 - Why do refs use guilds? 10:47 - How to guilds benefit players and player characters? 11:30 - Why these "benefits" are lies in disguise 11:41 - Players that Don't Want to Play 13:35 - Gold Sinks: Are they Really Needed? 14:29 - Time Taxes: the Boring Way... or the Awesome Way? 15:59 - Player Benefits or Incentive Doffers? 17:24 - No Free Lunch 20:39 - Rugged Individualism 21:52 - Call in: James Eck - DM Metagaming 27:30 - Further, Player Metagaming in a Troupe Game 29:55 - Outro 30:38 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - The "Prior" Episode, Call Ins on Player Skill: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Call-Ins-Players--Player-Interactions--and-Player-Skill-e1nahlf Don't Be Nice: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Dont-Be-Nice-e161q2a Strict Time Records: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/episodes/Strict-Time-Records-e1da6ti The RedCaps Podcast: https://anchor.fm/theredcaps/ Mindweave RPG: https://mindweaverpg.wordpress.com/
OctOSR - Day Fifteen: Pick your Players
OctOSR - Day Fourteen: Suit Your Table
OctOSR - Day Thirteen: Getting Into a Game
OctOSR - Day Eleven: Read the Rules with a Clean Slate
OctOSR - Day Nine: On Abstract Combat-Fu!
OctOSR - Day Eight: Regarding the Moose Head
OctOSR - Day Seven: Regarding the Ming Vase
OctOSR - Day Six: Cannon Fodder Henchmen?
OctOSR - Day Four: Forget Game Balance
OctOSR - Day Three: Heroic, not Super Heroic
OctOSR - Day Two: Player Skill not Character Skill
- - Description - - Experiencing Chainmail! I respond to some questions from a listener and community member after talking a little about #OctOSR, what I'm doing with #OctOSR, and an invitation to you, the listener, to participate. Want to get in on the action? Drop me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Boa Constrictors with Kevin of the Redcaps Podcast! 00:13 - Theme 00:43 - What's Up with #OctOSR at Clerics Wear Ringmail?!? 08:43 - Bos on Chainmail and the Ash Coast 09:59 - Chainmail: First Strike vs Ash Coast Initiative 14:40 - How This has Impacted Play 15:50 - Ash Coast Example: Spoilers for Escape from the Brass Ziggurat 17:14 - More from the Ash Coast: Charting the Sunken Temple of the Gilled Horror 19:03 - The Rolls Create the Scenario 19:50 - Weapon Length vs Side Initiative 20:36 - Lot of Nuance 23:07 - Making the Fighting Man a Thinker's Class 24:18 - Delve on, Bos! 24:54 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - The Redcaps Podcast: https://anchor.fm/theredcaps/ Redcaps OSR October Charity Event: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/494108 Ash Coast AP: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwLV78FITa3q4NxH9bSYy7GNIHRembjxj CWR Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn
- - Description - - Holy Call-Ins, Batman! Calls this week for feedback on the last couple episodes, primarily focusing on player skill, the application of player skill, player engagement, and metagaming - with a little bit of thinking outside the box fit in there too. Want to get in on the action? Drop me a message! https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Progenitor Joe of Hindsightless Responds! 00:41 - Theme 01:11 - Intro and Direction 03:39 - Nerd's Variety Jason's Good-Natured Pedantry 11:54 - A Pit of Many Spikes, regarding Player Engagement 14:16 - Jason: Catching Up - Player Engagement, Broken Sword, and Back Pain 15:53 - Ray Responds! Sea Creatures, Sliders, and Enjoying the Experience 21:45 - Jason: Grog Con! (Also, Rumors and Lecture Halls) 25:04 - John Lenin: Proper Role Play and Being the Hero 34:17 - Perspective from Randy at Biggus Geekus 38:49 - Jason Finishes the Podcast 43:24 - GraveSlugg: Player Skill and Player Age 54:26 - Evil Jeff Responds! (People, Places, and Playing) 56:22 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - Joe, Hindsightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/ Jason, Nerds' Variety RPG Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Colin, Spikepit: https://anchor.fm/spikepit Ray, Plundergrounds: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds Randy, Biggus Geekus: https://anchor.fm/biggusgeekus Jeff, Minions & Musings: https://anchor.fm/eviljeff The Ash Coast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwLV78FITa3q4NxH9bSYy7GNIHRembjxj CWR Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn
- - Description - - Joe Richter of the Hindsightless Podcast drops a formitable challenge: define the difference between Player Skill and Metagaming - so I sit down with a formitable Dungeon Master, Rick Stump of Harbinger Games and the Don't Split the Party blog, to take a shot at answering. Do you have thoughts on the subject? Drop me a voicemail! https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Joe Richter: What is the Difference? 00:58 - Theme 01:28 - Welcoming Rick Stump! 03:37 - Player Skill in Seaward 07:46 - Thwarting the Metagamer In Game 11:08 - The Line Between Metagame Information and In-Setting Common Knowledge 13:03 - Truth, Rumors, and the Halfways Between 21:59 - Psychotronic Theory: Verisimilitude and Misdirection 25:52 - Learning from your Players 29:23 - The Impact of Random Encounters and Rules as Written on Metagame Strategy 31:57 - Flashlights Scare Ghosts Away 34:05 - Make Original Content! 35:32 - Players Don't Want to Metagame 38:00 - The Meta-Game in Roleplay-Adjacent Games 42:32 - Is "The Build Game" Metagaming? 45:31 - The Difference Between Knowing the System and Gaming the System 47:13 - The Original Impetus Behind the Discussion! 49:35 - Outro (Thank you, Rick!) 50:18 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - Hindsqwightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/ Weal or Woe: https://www.wealorwoe.com/ Dont Split the Party: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/ Lore with Rick Podcast: https://anchor.fm/rick-stump Rick's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RickStump Lew Pulsipher in Seaward: http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/2013/05/jazz-band-adventuring.html Pulsipher Games: https://pulsiphergames.com/
- - Description - - Naval battles! How cool are naval battles and how much cooler would it be to incorporate them into your game? In response to a prompt from Rufus the Rust Monster - I talk a little about The Broken Sword and how it can inspire some maritime adventure and mass combat - then I take some call ins backing up over the last few episodes before giving an update about where I've been. Want to get in on the action? Drop me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail/message Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Prompt: What is Your Favorite Fantasy Fight? 00:42 - Theme 01:12 - The Broken Sword: Elves vs Trolls on the Open Sea 03:38 - Why Maritime Adventures in Your Campaign? 09:45 - Thank You, Ray 10:41 - Jason Picks my Nits 11:39 - VTTs and Math 15:26 - Getting Quiet Players to Talk 22:29 - Immersion with Biggus Geekus 27:32 - Karl Reacts to the Underground Architect's Dungeon Ecology 30:50 - Expert-Tier Anchor Contest Feedback from Jason 34:20 - Taylor Whines About his Vacation 43:13 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - CWR Discord! - https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Ray Otus: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds Nerds Variety Jason: https://anchor.fm/jason376 Hobbs' Legendary Kalmata: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJihWQoKqzZdxeL1LHkr-YJ_hewIFOyx ...or on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hobbs665 Joe of Biggus Geekus: http://biggusgeekuspodcast.com/ Karl of The GMologist Presents: https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez
- - Description - - The long-awaited (or, at least two week late) award show episode! Where we go through the callers and entrants to the Clerics Wear Ringmail Spring-Summer Transitional Convert-A-Monster Contest! Want to get in on the action? Drop me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail Theme music by Michael Ramir C, courtesy of Mixkit.co (https://mixkit.co/). - - Show Notes - - 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Theme 01:22 - James Eck: Purple Dragon from Mind Weave RPG to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 03:57 - Ozarker: As Bear! 07:59 - Kobolds with Karl! 12:19 - Bos' Horrible Mistake 18:57 - Direct Sun sends a Carrier Knave 21:07 - 404: Entry Not Found :-( 22:38 - Jason Prime: The Amphisbaena 24:42 - And the winner is... 26:21 - Outro 26:56 - Theme & Legal - - Links - - CWR Discord! - https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn Mind Weave RPG blog: https://mindweaverpg.wordpress.com/ Contest Specific Post!: https://mindweaverpg.wordpress.com/2022/05/17/biweekly-monster-purple-dragon-add/ DriveThru: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/11341/Mind-Weave-RPG Karl Rodriguez, The GMologist Presents: https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez Bos' Necron Conversion: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FEcugtbgFxlR6e26xF1YmqXcIDlKXy9l/view Jason Prime, Lost Lake Campaign: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJihWQoKqzZCK6h6LbGkaoGSdpj8Zype ...and at Random Screed on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/jason-hobbs - - Charities - - Children's Homes, Inc - https://www.childrenshomes.org/ The National Alliance on Mental Illness - https://nami.org/Home
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