Podcast appearances and mentions of Ross Watson

Thanks to The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, The Design Brief is back! Richard Chamberlain may not be a household name in Australian golf course architecture. As you'll soon hear, Richard is however extremely well experienced and has worked with some of those household golf course architecture names. From an early career in cartography Richard was soon to make a change into golf course architecture, probably in a way you won't see coming. Once in the game, with a couple of Australia's well known names such as Graham Marsh and Ross Watson, Richard was soon finding his was in the earliest days of CAD for golf course design and construction. Fast forward through some rewarding, and at times, tumultuous years, Richard is now well into his very own career as a golf course architect. As you'll hear, he is working on a number of golf course projects around Australia. One corner of his business that he has carved out in the industry himself, is that of mini golf course design. Different to the image that you conjure in your mind at the moment you first hear about mini golf, golf clubs and other golf facilities are seeing enormous benefits to adding mini golf to their established golf offerings. Join Richard and I as we theoretically travel the country discussing old golf course design and construction, new golf course design and construction, mini golf, short par 4's, and the odd beer story all in the name of learning more and gaining an insight into the mind of a golf course architect. People and places mentioned in this podcast: Richard Chamberlain Golf Design - website Richard Chamberlain Email - richard@rgcd.com.au Richard Chamberlain Phone - 0409 899 007 Graham Marsh - Planet Golf website Ross Watson - Planet Golf website Magenta Shores Golf Club Kooindah Waters Golf Club Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club Karratha Country Club Royal Hobart Golf Club Ocean Shores Country Club Wembley Golf Course Royal Fremantle Golf Club Palm Meadows Golf Course Meadowbrook Golf Club Cobram Barooga Golf Club Bankstown Golf Club Toowoomba Golf Club The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA)

Ross Watson joins us to chat with Chaz Kemp about his RPG new release -Shadowcat magazine www.shadowcatmagazine.com check out their etsy store at https://etsy.com/shop/ashelonpublishing/

Grab your hot chocolate (or mulled wine!) and get into the festive spirit with our Christmas special as we meet some reindeer, talk Christmas trees and explore a small but mighty wood with huge value for nature in the snowy Cairngorms National Park. We discover fascinating reindeer facts with Tilly and friends at The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, and step into a winter wonderland at nearby Glencharnoch Wood with site manager Ross. We learn what makes a good Christmas tree, how the wood is helping to recover the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, why the site is so important to the community and which wildlife thrive here. You can also find out which tree can effectively clone itself, and is so tasty to insects that it developed the ability to shake them off! Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive.  Adam: Well, today I'm in the Cairngorms in Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic, the area is called – I'm going to give this a go - Am Monadh Ruadh. Apologies for my pronunciation there, but we are in the midst of a mountain range in the Highlands, of Scotland obviously. Generally we're about 1,000 metres high here but the higher peaks I'm told get to about 1,300 metres odd, which is going on for, I don't know, 4,500 foot or so. So this is a very dramatic landscape. We have rocky outcrops, boulders, steep cliffs. It's home to bird species such as the dotterel, snow bunting, the curlew and red grouse, as well as mammals such as mountain hare. But the reason of course we are here this Christmas is because it is also home to Britain's only herd, I think, of reindeer. Now, the reindeer herder is Tilly. She is the expert here and I've been braving, I am braving the snow and icy winds to be introduced to her and the herd. And from there after that, we're going to take a drive to what I'm told is an amazing wooded landscape of Caledonian pine to talk all things pine, and of course, all things Christmas trees. But first of all, let's meet Tilly, who looks after the reindeer.  Adam: OK, we are recording.  Tilly: That's good. OK. I'd better not say anything naughty then.  Adam: I'll cut out any naughtiness, that's fine.  Tilly: This is a bit of a rustly bag. It's more rustly than normal but never mind.  Adam: What do the reindeer actually eat?  Tilly: Well, so. We're now up in their natural habitat and we're looking across a nice heathery hillside with sedges as well. You can just see them poking through the snow and they'll pick away at the old heather of the year and the sedges.  Adam: Right.  Tilly: But we manage the herd and we like to feed them. So what I've got in my bag is some food for them, which they love.  Adam: Right. And what's in your Santa sack of food now?   Tilly: Oh, that's a secret.   Adam: Oh, you can't tell me. Oh, God.  Tilly: No, no. I can tell you. So it's a cereal mix and there is something similar to what you would feed sheep. Bit of barley, bit of sheep mix.  Adam: That's awesome. So not mince pies and carrots? That's only reserved for Christmas Eve. That's probably not very good for them, I would have thought.  Tilly: Yeah, no, I hate to say this, but reindeer don't actually eat carrots.  Adam: Oh right okay, well, that's good to know.  Tilly: But if ever children bring carrots for them, I never turn them away because we're very good at making carrot soup and carrot cake.  Adam: Santa's helpers get the carrots.  Tilly: And I'm absolutely certain that Santa eats all the mince pies, so all good. So anyway, come on through here. We're going now into a 1000-acre enclosure. It just hooks on there, that's perfect, it goes right across. We could actually once we get close to these visitors are coming off from a hill visit this morning. So you'll be pleased to hear that I am the boss. I'm Mrs. boss man and I've been with the reindeer for 43 years. Now, their lifespan is sort of 12 to 15 years, so I've gone through many generations. I've known many lovely reindeer and there's always a favourite and you would have seen some real characters there today. And you couldn't see them in better conditions. Anyway, do get yourself down and warm yourselves up. Oh, you've done very well to bring a little one like that today.  Walker: He did pretty well until now!  Tilly: You've done extremely well. Of course they have. He's got very red, a bit like Rudolph. The thing is there's just that wind, and it's the wind that drops the temperature, that chill factor.  Adam: Yeah. So where are we going, Tilly?  Tilly: So we're heading out towards what we call Silver Mount. They're not in here all year. Different times of year, sometimes they're all free range, some of them are free ranging, some are in here.  Adam: When you speak about free range, literally they can go anywhere?  Tilly: Yes they can.  Adam: And they come back because they know where the food is?  Tilly: Yes they do. They know where the food is, they sort of know where the home is, but they do wander out onto the high ground as well, more in the summertime.   Adam: Right. And is that, I mean Scotland has different rules. There's a right to roam sort of rule here. Does that apply to reindeer? Is that the issue?  Tilly: That is a moot point.  Adam: Oh, really? We've hardly started and I've got into trouble.   Tilly: No. Well, we lease 6000 acres, right? So we lease everything out to the skyline.  Adam: So that's an extraordinary range for them.  Tilly: It is an extraordinary range, but they know no bounds. I have to say reindeer sometimes do just pop over the boundary.  Adam: And that causes problems with the neighbours?  Tilly: Well, some like it, some aren't so keen. And we herd them as well, so we can herd them home. And we herd them by calling them.  Adam: I was going to say, do you have a skidoo, or?  Tilly: No, no. Absolutely no vehicular access on the hill. It's all by Shanks's pony, everywhere.  Adam: Really. So you walk, and then you just ring a bell to herd them, or what do you do?  Tilly: And you ‘loooooow, come on now!' and they come to us.  Adam: Right. And so what was the call again?  Tilly: ‘Looow, come on now!'  Adam: Come on now, is that it? OK, very good. OK, I now move.  Tilly: Yes. But hopefully they won't all come rushing from over there.  Adam: I was going to say, yes, we've now called out the reindeer.  Tilly: We've just joined a cow and calf here, who have just come down to the gate, and you can see just for yourself, they're completely benign. They're so docile and quiet. There's no sort of kicking or pushing or anything. They're very, very gentle creatures.  Adam: And is that because they've been acclimatised because tourists come, or would that be their natural behaviour?  Tilly: It is their natural behaviour, bearing in mind that reindeer have been domesticated for thousands of years. We're not looking at a wild animal here that's got tame. We're looking at a domesticated animal.  Adam: Right.  Tilly: It's probably more used to people than some of the reindeer up in the Arctic. So we have domestication embedded in their genetics.  Adam: So what we're saying is, genetically, they're actually more docile. It's not because this particular reindeer is used to us. But originally then, if one goes back far enough, they were wilder?  Tilly: Yes so, it's a really interesting process of domestication of reindeer, which happened in the Old World, so Russia, Scandinavia, inner Mongolia, outer Mongolia. And that is reindeer and many, many reindeer in these Arctic areas, are domesticated. They're not wild.  Adam: And that started happening, do we have an idea when?  Tilly: Probably about 10,000 years ago. But if you go to the New World, to Alaska and North Canada, exactly the same animal is called a caribou. Caribou are never domesticated. The indigenous people of these areas never embraced the herding and enclosing of reindeer, which was caribou, whereas in the Old World it became very, very important to the men, the people's survival.  Adam: And then the caribou, do they have a different character?   Tilly: Yes, they're wilder. And it's a little bit difficult to show today – you see quite strong colour variation in reindeer, which you don't see in caribou, and colour variation is man's influence on selecting for colour. So you'd get very light coloured ones, you'd get white ones in reindeer, you'd get very dark ones, but in caribou they're all the same, brownie-grey colour. Yeah, they felt that the white reindeer were important in the herd for whatever reasons, Germanic reasons or whatever. Interestingly, the Sámi - and I'm not sure if there could be a white one up in the herd here at the moment - describe them as lazy reindeer, the white ones.  Adam: Why?  Tilly: Well, I didn't know why until I worked out why white reindeer are often deaf. So they sleep, they don't get up when everybody else gets up and moves, and this white reindeer doesn't realise that the herd has left them. So they're not all deaf, but certain white ones are.  Adam: Very important question, obvious but I didn't ask it to begin with because I'm a fool. Why are reindeer connected to Christmas?  Tilly: Well, that's a really good question, because actually they think it stems from a poet called Clement C Moore, who wrote a poem in America, he had Scandinavian Germanic connections, called The Night Before Christmas, where Donder, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, fly through the air with Saint Nick in the sleigh, the little Santa.  Adam: Yeah.  Tilly: But, so that really set the scene of eight reindeer and the sleigh, and that was based on the Norwegian God Odin, who had eight legs and strode through the sky with these eight legs and eight reindeer. Then we have Rudolph, who turns up, but he doesn't turn up until the time of prohibition in America.  Adam: So Rudolph isn't in the original poem?  Tilly: Absolutely not. Rudolph is an impostor.  Adam: I didn't know that!  Tilly: He, so he, it was a marketing exercise for a department store during alcohol prohibition. And it was Rudolph with his red nose, and his red nose is because of alcohol.  Adam: Because he drank too much? So was it in favour of alcohol or was it going ‘what terrible thing happens to you when you drink'?  Tilly: I'm not terribly sure. But anyway, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was the song, so that adds to it. And then along comes Coca-Cola who used a red and white Santa to promote Coca-Cola at Christmas time. So the red and white Santa is Coca-Cola.  Adam: Right. And the red-nose reindeer is from alcohol and reindeer comes from an actual American poem, of which Rudolph wasn't part of anyway. That's all simple to understand then!  Tilly: Exactly. Perfect.  Adam: Well, we're moving up to some of the more exposed slopes. Tilly has gone ahead. I'm just going to catch up back with her, and ask how she started as one of UK's first reindeer herders. Well, certainly, one of our few reindeer experts.  Tilly: I came up to volunteer and I met the keeper who was looking after the reindeer for Dr Lindgren, who was the lady who brought them in with her husband, Mr Utsi, and he was quite good looking.   Adam: Is this a revelation you wish to make to them?  Tilly: And the reindeer were endearing, and the mountains were superb, and so I married the keeper.  Adam: Right, you did marry him! I thought you were telling me about another man other than your husband.  Tilly: So I married Alan. We married in 1983 and I've been here ever since.  Adam: And so the purpose of having reindeer here originally was what?  Tilly: Ah, good question. Mr Utsi came here and was very taken by the landscape and the environment, the habitat, because it was so similar to his own home country of north Sweden. And he begged the question where are the reindeer? Why are there not reindeer here? And it was on that notion that he and his wife, Dr Lindgren, devoted the latter half of their lives to bringing reindeer back to Scotland.  Adam: So that's interesting. So, it raises the difference of ecological or sort of natural question, of whether these are indigenous animals.  Tilly: Yes. So it's an interesting idea. Certainly, the habitat's available for them and they live in their natural environment. But when they became extinct, or not extinct, but when they weren't in Scotland, some people say as recently as 600 years ago and some people say as long as 2,000 years ago. If it's 2,000 years ago, they're described as a past native.  Adam: So OK, I didn't realise that, but is there any debate around whether they were originally - whatever originally is –  Tilly: They were definitely here.  Adam: So they are native? They're not sort of imported, they have died out and been brought back here.  Tilly: Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, they were reintroduced, but how, what that time span is, some people say sooner than later, and Mr Utsi certainly identified this as a very suitable spot for them.  Adam: Any idea why they might have died out? Do we know?  Tilly: Probably a bit of climate change and also probably hunting. Very easy animal to hunt. Are you OK with this chitter chatter going on?  Adam: Yes, it's all good, and a bit of, do you call it mooing?   Tilly: Oh no, the reindeer aren't making any noise, they're clicking.  Adam: Someone was mooing!  Tilly : I think it was the people.  Adam: I thought it was the reindeer making that noise.   Tilly: Not at all. They're very silent.   Adam: They'd have left this podcast thinking reindeer moo.  Tilly: They would have. Exactly. No, they are really, really silent animals.  Adam: There's a very large reindeer there coming down the road.  Tilly: Oh, that's OK, that's Akubra, he'll do nothing to you at all. He's an absolute genuine reindeer. He's lovely. But he listened to the clicking as they walk. You can't hear it because of your headphones.  Adam: OK, so I guess later on I'll put a microphone on a reindeer. That will be a first. One other thing I always imagined when you saw a set of antlers on a sort of grand Scottish mansion, I thought, oh well, they've killed that the reindeer. And actually, that's not true, is it? They fall off.  Tilly: They do. You're absolutely right. Having it depends how you see the antlers. If the antlers are still on a skull, that animal has been killed and there's nothing wrong with that. There is a, you know, the animals need to be controlled. But you're also right. Antlers are lost every year and regrown again, so they cast their antlers and they regrow their antlers. So in a reindeer's life, if a reindeer is 10 years old, he will have just grown his 11th set of antlers.  Adam: And the purpose of antlers is fighting? I'm a big girl, I'm a big boy, whatever.   Tilly: Yeah, mainly for fighting, a weapon. So for the big breeding males, it's for claiming harem for females, so in the breeding season. And those big breeding bulls will actually lose their antlers around about now, their antlers will fall off and then they won't regrow their antlers until next spring, right? The females, little females like this, keep those boney antlers all winter and they use them for competing for food, so they can jab another reindeer and push it off and they can get into the food as a result.   Adam: The other thing I can notice about some of them, but not the reindeer in front of us, but I think the one walking away, although this looks very bony, the other one has sort of felt on it, and what looks like blood. So what's going on there?  Tilly: Yes. So they are the velvet antlers on the Christmas reindeer that have finished growing, but they don't lose the velvet properly and there is still potentially blood in the bone, as it were.  Adam: So there's this sort of capillary underneath the felt.  Tilly: Yes, exactly, because the antler's a really interesting appendage because it grows from the tip. It doesn't grow from the base, so the blood supply has to go all the way to the tip to grow. And the velvet skin carries that blood supply.  Adam: Right. I see. So now the reindeer in front of us has no velvet so that can't grow.  Tilly: And no blood supply. Exactly. And the only way she can grow, get more antlers or bigger antlers, is to lose the whole thing and grow it again next year. Yes.  Adam: So any other serious facts we should note, to inform ourselves about reindeer?  Tilly: Oh, lots of serious facts. So they're the only deer species where the males and the females grow antlers. Every other deer species, it's only the males that grow the antlers. They are the only deer species that's been domesticated by man. All the other species of deer, we're talking about 40 different species, are all truly wild animals. They can survive in the coldest parts of the world, so in the middle of Siberia, the temperature can go down to -72 and reindeer are still living there quite happily.  Adam: It's cold today, but it's probably -2 or something.  Tilly: Exactly. Yeah, yeah. Man cannot live in the Arctic without an animal to live by, and it's reindeer that he lives by. Man would never have gone into these areas. Obviously now they're all digging up, you know, getting the oil and the gas and everything. But indigenous man can only survive in these areas if he has reindeer as his farm animal of the north, so they're really important to the indigenous people of the north.  Adam: And in that sort of role, then, you can clearly eat reindeer. Then what else does it provide us?  Tilly: Absolutely. So it provides with meat. There are indigenous people that milk them in season. They have these tremendous coats that are used for covering tents and for people's, you know, clothing. And the antlers? Not now, but the antlers would have been used as tools in the past.  Adam: And have you ever had reindeer milk?  Tilly: I have tried, yes, we have milked the odd reindeer for one reason or another. It's very rich, very rich.  Adam: You have! Rich, is that good or quite fatty? Is it drinkable?  Tilly: That's good. Yeah, it's totally drinkable. Totally nice.  Adam: Yeah, I think yaks or a drink made from yaks, which was disgusting, I found in Mongolia, but I really found it difficult. It wasn't my thing.  Tilly: But it wasn't the fermented one, was it? Because in Mongolia they're into fermented mare's milk.   Adam: That might be what I had.  Tilly: And that is revolting.   Adam: Yes, OK, that's maybe what I had. How unusual is reindeer milk then?  Tilly: Yeah. It's got a very high fat content. They produce very little milk, because if you had a great big swinging under in in freezing conditions, you'd have ice cream, you wouldn't have milk.  Adam: The other thing I noticed that we haven't talked about is their hooves which look quite large and they look, I mean just from a distance, quite mobile.  Tilly: Yes. They are very, very, very flexible animals and their feet, their hooves are very big. Of course, for snow. Walking on the snow, spreading the weight, but also great shovels for digging. So they dig. You know, if you're in two feet, three feet of snow in north Sweden, you've got to get to the food underneath and to get to it, they need to dig. So they're great diggers.  Adam: And your life now here. It's quite a change from where you grew up, I appreciate.  Tilly: Certain years, a very rural life I had then. I have an equally country-wise life now. I will go to my grave with reindeer. They are my complete nutter passion. They are the most wonderful animals to be amongst, they put a smile on your face. They live in a beautiful area. They're just, they're just lovely animals and they give me a lot of pleasure. Yeah, yeah.  Adam: Fantastic. And if people are in the Cairngorms and want to have their own trip to see the reindeer, they call the what?  Tilly: They call the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. You could do it on the website, you can ring us up and they need to dress up. I'm sure you appreciate you, are your feet cold yet?  Adam: No, look, I stopped off and bought extra thermals on my way.  Tilly: Very good.  Adam: Well, thank you very much. It's been a real treat, thank you very much.  Tilly: Brilliant. Oh, well, thank you for coming.  Adam: Well, I'm afraid I'm having to leave the reindeer behind because we're now heading to a little lower ground to see what I'm told is an amazing forest of Caledonian pine. And to learn a bit more about the trees and their relative, the other pine, which we all know as the Christmas tree. And we're off to meet a guy who looks after the Glencharnoch Wood in Carrbridge, near the River Spey and Dulnain. And now, despite it, it's a quite a small forest, I think. But despite that, it's quite well known for being really important, really big on biodiversity. And it's home to a number of species including, but not just them, but including the red squirrel and the crested tit.  Ross: My name's Ross Watson. I'm the site manager for North Scotland for the Woodland Trust.  Adam: Brilliant. Ross, we have come on an extraordinary day. It has snowed. It looks picturesque, chocolate box, shortbread box maybe, type stuff, so fantastic. So just tell me where we are.  Ross: Well, we're in Glencharnoch wood. It's a wood that the Woodland Trust owns and it's part of a series of little woodlands on the back of Carrbridge between Carrbridge and the railway. And the Woodland Trust has had it for a number of years. It's a little site, only 36 acres, but it's a pine wood site and a really important pine wood site at that, in that it's a small part of much bigger Caledonian forests.  Adam: OK. Well, I want to talk to you about pine wood, because I think it just sort of gets dismissed – ‘oh this pine wood, not important, not interesting'. Apart from Christmas, perhaps, when suddenly it becomes really important, but I want to unpack all of that with you, but just explain to you we're going to go on a little walk. Hopefully you know where you're going. Good. All right, so just explain a bit about where we're going, give me a sense of the pattern of where we're going.  Ross: Absolutely. We're going to take a circular walk around the woodlands. The woodlands here, it's all about community. Everything we do here is around that tree. We're going to walk through a piece of land that's owned by the local authority and then go through our own land and onto privately owned land and then come back to our own land. And it really shows the connectivity of all these different habitats, all the different landowners. But really the path network is there for the community that's here and they are involved in practice as well.  Adam: So. Pine wood. Yeah, it sort of gets bunched all together, and especially the Scots pine I hear a lot about. But there are there are big, big differences and varieties are there? Tell me a bit about them.  Ross: The Scots pine we are walking through are really special species. That's the only native conifer in the UK, right? And that's why they're so special here. Really these Scots pine provide their own habitat all of their own. They're incredibly threatened. As a habitat in Scotland, we've got just a number of Caledonian pine inventory sites. We've got ancient woodlands, designated sites.  Adam: Sorry, just to stop you - Caledonian pine, Scots pine, interchangeable words?  Ross: Yeah, good point. The Great Wood of Caledon was the reference of the name of the forest that was here, the old, the original boreal forest that gradually reduced in size. Partly through climate change as the country became cooler and wetter, but also through human intervention through felling, fires, grazing, all that kind of thing. So now we tend to talk about Scots pine and Cally pine which can be fairly interchangeable, but the Cally pine tends to be the bigger, grander kind of granny pines, these really lovely old things you see in some of the landscapes.  Adam: But that's sort of just the way people use the word. Technically, they're the same thing, but we refer to the Caledonian pine as the big grand ones, and it comes from… so I just want to make sure I understood what you said. The word Caledonian pine then comes from a Caledonian, a forest called Caledonia?   Ross: Yeah, the Great Wood of Caledon.   Adam: Isn't that a brilliant name? So mystical and it sort of talks of Tolkien and other worlds. Wow, wow. OK. So we have the great Scots pine, the Caledonian pine. If people have a general thing in their mind about pine trees, what is special about Caledonian pine? How that distinguishes from pines in other parts of the world.  Ross: Well, Scots pine, as we're walking through this woodland, just now as you look up the trunks of the trees, as you look up the bark tends to go from a kind of grey-brown to a real kind of russety red, like a red squirrel colour. And that's a lot of the red squirrel camouflage comes from that, that rusty colour. So they're skittering around these treetops and they can be jumping around and they're nice and camouflaged because of that colour. So is that redness that you really see? But what we can see in here, a lot of these trees are very even age, it has been quite heavily thinned in the past, but then you come across a tree like this that's got a very deep crown. So you see there's live branches more than halfway down that tree, whereas there's a lot of these other trees -  Adam: Yes, I was going to say it's weird that they've got no foliage until very high.  Ross: Yeah, so this tree here, and foresters may call this a wolf tree, a tree that has occupied a space and it's just sat there and doesn't allow anything around it.   Adam: It's called a wolf tree?  Ross: Some people would refer to it as a wolf tree. What we would refer to that is it's a deep crown tree, not very imaginatively named, but a deep crown tree is really important here because of capercaillie. Now, capercaillie, you imagine a capercaillie's a big bird, a turkey-sized bird, almost waist height, a male capercaillie. And in the winter it will walk out across these branches and it will nibble away at some of the needles, and it will sit there and it will rely on that during deep snow for shelter, security, food. So without these deep crown trees, there isn't anywhere for them to go. So if you imagine a plantation, a very dense pine that are much denser than this and they don't have the chance for any deep crown trees. Then the opportunity for capercaillie here is much reduced.  Adam: Right. So there's sort of, I mean, look the elephant in the room. Well, it's Christmas around the corner. People have Christmas trees. Sort of most people know anything about pine, it's because they have it in their house at Christmas. That's not a Scots pine.  Ross: No, your traditional Christmas tree is a Nordmann fir. A fir tree tends to hold onto needles a little longer than a pine tree. And if you look after the pine, it will retain its needles, but quite often the pine trees will grow slightly too quickly, so it'll be a bit bare as a Christmas tree, whereas a fir tree is kind of hairy enough to be a good Christmas tree.  Adam: Right. And do we have, do we have them planted in the UK as well? I mean just for commercial cropping?  Ross: Yes, as a Christmas tree.  Adam: Right. So the other thing, look, we're in a really lovely forest at the moment. We're the only ones here. But Scotland, the iconic pictures of Scotland, are bare, bare mountains, aren't they? They're not wooded, and yet I've always read that that's not how it used to be. It used to be a wooded part of the country. Why did it lose so much of its woodland?  Ross: Well, it's looking back to, what, centuries ago as the climate became cooler and wetter, the tree line reduced in height. But more recently in the 1800s the Cultural Revolution created huge periods of felling where they needed this timber for industrialization. Trees from the woodlands near here were cut down, they were floated down to the river Spey and then out to Spey Bay and the Moray coast. They were used for underground water piping for ship's masts. Because these trees are, as you can feel today it's a cold place to be, they've grown very slowly. So because they're nice and straight as we can see, they are, the rings are very close together, so they're very sturdy. They're an ideal timber source. But then we start to look at deer numbers increasing and sheep numbers increasing. The more mouths on the hill meant that once you cut these trees down, it was much harder for the trees to come away again. And really, that's the landscape we're in now really. And when we're talking about those very large, deep crowned trees on open hillsides, these kind of granny pines are so picturesque, and really a lot of these trees, there was no timber value in them because they were already so crooked and they were left, and this is almost a remnant that's showcasing the old forest that once was standing there.  Adam: A lot of times, site managers, they're trying to keep things steady in a way, I suppose. Just trying to maintain what's going, keep that going, that's hard enough. Is that the job here or do you have bigger plans? Are there, you know, times are changing?  Ross: Well, this is one of eight woodlands I look after across the north of Scotland. Whenever we're doing anything, no matter what the scale of it, it's not just how do we keep the site going and kind of steady. It's about when we are doing work, how do we add value to that to make it better for the people that are living here? And how do we use that to continue to showcase these sites as the shop window for the Woodland Trust?  Adam: And is the idea here to try and remove the non-Scots pine, so you'd have a pure Scots pine forest?  Ross: Well, the Woodland Trust works on a on a threat basis really. So any tree is better than no tree, right? But if you have got a lot of spruce regeneration that's threatening this ancient wood then we need to begin to remove that. And that's been the case here.  Adam: Sorry I'm pausing because there's a lovely spaniel who I can see wants me to throw a stick, but I won't throw the stick. Very cool dog. There we are. Sorry, we were saying yes, so any tree is better than no tree. But are the other trees a threat then or not?  Ross: Well, the Norway spruce here has been seeding regeneration into the woodland areas and over the last few years we've cleared a lot of that and in some of these nice young spruce, we've been able to provide to the community for Christmas trees, which has been really handy. But all of that is gone now and we're left with this core of, of mature Norway spruce, that a number of them have started to snap so are becoming a safety issue for members of the public using footpaths next to it. But also there's an opportunity there where before that timber dies, we can extract it and it can be useful for the community.  Adam: And you'd replace it with Scots pines.  Ross: No, we're going to replace it predominantly with hazel and aspen. Because one of the slight concerns in having a single species stand, like we have here, where it's all Scots pine, is that there's only one species for the likes of red squirrels or the crossbills. And on a day like today we might hear crossbows coming over. There's only one species here for them, whereas if we're planting hazel, which is under-represented species here, that provides a different food for red squirrels in a different part of the woodland. And aspen is one of the most biodiverse species that we would have in this part of the world. And there are very, very few aspen.  Adam: When you say it's the most biodiverse species, you mean it attracts biodiversity?  Ross: Absolutely yes. In terms of the lower plant assemblage that's on there specifically and insects. And aspen, their Latin name is Populus tremula and the tremula comes from the oval shape on the leaf. Just in the slightest breeze, it's adapted that to try and shake off the insect burden because the leaves are so palatable for insects.  Adam: So the shape of the leaf in wind -  Ross: The shape of this stock of the leaf is oval.  Adam: And that helps shift any insects.   Ross: Yeah, yeah.   Adam: It's interesting because aspen, in my ignorance, I associate with aspen in America, but it's a native UK tree.  Ross: It is, yeah. And it will be one of the first colonisers after the Ice Age. That's, an aspen will have, the seed will have blown down as the ice is receding. But some of the aspen that are here now will be some of the oldest trees that exist in the UK and aspen generally now grows rhizomatously, so you'll see the roots through the forest and all of the suckers will pop out. And the aspen that we can see in the woodland today, they could have been here for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, and they've just, as the clone has marched through the landscape, it's just it's moved and colonised these different areas. They're fascinating trees. So when you look at some of the images in North America, you might see entire hillsides of aspen and that could all be the same tree essentially, they're amazing organisms.  Adam: That's amazing. So it's sort of cloning really.   Ross: Yeah, absolutely.  Adam: That's amazing. And also I can see right on the Scots pine behind you, beautiful lichen, which is just a real sign of the air quality here, isn't it? I mean, it doesn't grow and it's just often further south. We do see lichen, obviously, but often I see a bit. This is everywhere. It's a real sign this is good land.  Ross: Absolutely, yeah.  Adam: Good land, good air. Wonderful. Well, I'm going to take another shot of our colleague down below. Hello. Wearing a lovely red hat, almost looks like Santa. And then we'll move on. So we're going uphill a bit, you might just hear the snow crunching under my boots. So this is amazing. A wolf peeking out from the woods, which adds to the fairy tale quality of all of this forest walk. This is not a real wolf. This is carved in wood. It looks really beautiful and it's covered in snow at the moment, which maybe is why I didn't spot it at first. So what's the story here?  Ross: Well, the story here is that Carrbridge hosts the Scottish chainsaw carving competition every year at the end of August, and there are chainsaw artists coming from all over the world to compete here to do some incredibly elaborate carvings. They do benches and three-to-four-metre statues and it's absolutely incredible.   Adam: This is very delicate that I'm surprised this would be done with a chainsaw.  Ross: Yeah, it's a very specialist skill as you can see, and people have to be very artistic. You have to be very good with the saw, but also the bar of the saw is a specialist carving tool. But then they also can use all sorts of other implements to try and refine the artwork itself. And this is just one part of that much larger chainsaw carving trail that's in Carrbridge that really commemorates this annual event.  Adam: Amazing. Well, we'll leave the wolf. It's got even a little dark nose. Amazing. A little dog, a real dog this time. Well, yes, just to prove it. We've just seen some reindeer. Obviously they're a type of deer. Are they as much of a problem as the normal red deer that we know about? So what's your view on them?  Ross: Well, red deer, the numbers are extremely high in some places and in the Cairngorms, they're generally much better managed. But in other places where there just isn't that, that integration or the objectives are yet to be aligned with protected areas, the numbers in those places need to come down, but recognising that there are different objectives, there are different landowners who want to do different things with land. So in recognising and respecting those objectives, but generally, ideal numbers need to come down and they need to come down a lot in order for trees and woodland to recover.  Adam: But that's deer in general, just because it's Christmas, I just have reindeer on the mind. You don't see many reindeer here. Or any reindeer here?  Ross: No, you see them up in the Cairngorms, right?   Adam: Right. Another pitstop. I see some lichen with some snow on it. I should turn them into Christmas cards. I won't, but that's what I should do. So if there was a sort of a final thought you wanted people to take away about this forest or about Caledonian pines you're trying to protect and grow here, what might that be?  Ross: Well, for this woodland, and as I say, it's only 36 acres in size, it's a fairly small wood. But it's not to discount that, and we talk about the hundreds of ants nests, the crossbills, the crested tits, it's woodlands like this can punch way above their weight. But also woodlands like this connected together provide a much larger, integrated robust habitat. And it's just thinking along these lines that this, this woodland, although it has the A9 on one side, it's got roads on two other sides, it's got a forest adventure park there and to the other side, it feels like a woodland that could be squeezed, but it can also feel like a woodland that is a part of this much larger landscape and contributing to that. And I suppose in part it depends on how you view that, yeah. But the woodland is connected to its woodlands round about, so it's definitely playing its part and part of that recovery of the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, as small as it is.  Adam: It's been a real treat for you to guide us through it on such a special snowy Christmas-y day. So thank you very much indeed.   Ross: No problem.   Adam: Well, it's been a fantastic day. Which leaves me just say from the land of reindeer and Caledonian pine, can I wish you a very happy, peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year? And I do hope that wherever you are, you are able to share the joy of this season and that you'll join us in the New Year for lots more podcasts and tree adventures. Until then, from all of us in the Woodland Trust podcast team, to all of you, can we wish you a happy Christmas and a great New Year and of course, happy wanderings.  Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. And don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you are listening. And do give us a review and a rating. If you want to find out more about our woods and those that are close to you, check out the Woodland Trust website. Just head to the visiting woods pages. Thank you. 

Rogue Trader, Dark Heresy, Deathwatch, Only War, and Black Crusade - the Fantasy Flight RPGs that put players into the 41st millennium of Warhammer 40k. My guest today, Ross Watson, was a major player in the development of the games, joining FFG after a stint working on the US edition of White Dwarf.We talk about adapting 40k to a roleplaying game format, how FFG worked, and how the games changed Warhammer.Ross Watson interview in conversation with Jordan Sorcery_____________________________ Ross' Links:[Ross Watson Patreon]https://www.patreon.com/therosswatson_____________________________ Support My Work: DOWNLOAD MY FANTASY BATTLE SCENARIO DEAD KING WENCESLAS:https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslasELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK:https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery

Marc Ross talks about his expectations for Deshaun Watson this season, the stakes of his play for the team going into the future, the most important skill player(s) for this team this season, whether he expects a defensive regression, the ever-growing QB market and teams to watch in both the AFC and NFC.

Lead Designer of the Rogue Trader RPG and game designer extraordinaire Ross Watson stops by to talk the origins of Warhammer 40K roleplay, tabletop gaming, and much more! Tune into a TGCB first as Lucas, Adam, and Alan sit down with the man behind many of your favorite table-top creations including Rogue Trader and Wrath & Glory. Ross was kind enough to sit down with the boys and give us a peek into the mind of a prolific world-builder. New episodes every Monday! Check us out at: https://www.facebook.com/talkgamesandchewbubblegum

Rountable Discussion of the history of the HERO system with Ross Watson, Alice Peng and Brandon Powers. 

Ross Watson and Mike chat are talking with Darrell Hayhurst about Savage Worlds 20th Anniversary Kickstarter Check out the KS here https://tinyurl.com/savage20th

Matthew Keyes stops by to chat about Blood & Justice: Nocturne by Night a villains supplement for Blood and Justice, using the Prowlers and Paragon system. Ross Watson cohosts You can check out their Kickstarter here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mobius-worlds/blood-and-justice-nocturne-by-night

Ross Watson Talks Knights Arcanum for Savage Worlds You can find the Kickstarter page here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/star-anvil-studios/knights-arcanum

Playlist Kling Klong Show 361 1. Daniel Meister – 93 – Bondage 2. Reboot – not like used – snatch 3. Iglesias & Ross Watson – shine together 4. Luke Alessi – feelin love – thick as Thieves 5. Francisco Allendes & Kiki – monster – moon harbour 6. Don't blink – acid – low ceiling 7. Guzy – cosmic galv – radikon 8. Leyzen – Pandora – mobilee 9. Joplyn – fact & fiction - watergate

In this episode of the Secret MENS Business podcast we speak with the accomplished Melbourne artist Ross Watson. We discuss his love of painting, the meditative benefits utilised in is craft, mental health, and his latest 20th year anniversary gallery exhibition . Ross Watson (born in Brisbane, Australia in 1962) is an artist. He has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions since 1984, including important surveys of Australian and international contemporary art at the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, and in the Toronto and Melbourne International Art Fairs. He has been described as a 'proud, gay man', and sexuality has inspired several of his works. Ross's work includes portraits of Australian former rugby league footballer Ian Roberts, and Olympic Champion Matthew Mitcham In 2012, Ross celebrated 25 years as a professional artist. His art is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, National Portrait Gallery, and significant private collections including Sir Elton John, James J. O'Donnell and James D, Wolfensohn. He also did free work in aid of the AIDS charity, the Terence Higgins Trust. The internationally released book which includes an interview with the artist by former High Court Justice, the Hon. Michael Kirby, is published by Bruno Gmünder Verlag Germany. Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Ross Watson Gallery: 24 April - 9 May, 2021 11am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday ROSS WATSON GALLERY 465 Nicholson St, Carlton North Melbourne, Australia https://rosswatson.com National Portrait Gallery: https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/ross-watson-1962 www.facebook.com Art Gallery › Ross Watson Instagram: @rosswatsongallery The Secret MENS Business website: https://thesecretmensbusiness.podomatic.net The Secret MENS Business podcast: Spotify iTunes Google Manager Amazon Music Podomatic - https://thesecretmensbusiness.podomatic.com The Secret MENS Business Facebook group (MEN Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretmensbusiness01 Secret MENS Business Podcast Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/projectselfacceptance Instagram: secretmensbusiness_smb

Famous artist Ross Watson talks to the Sunday Arts Magazine about what he is doing at the moment. http://media.rawvoice.com/joy_sundayartsmagazine/p/joy.org.au/sundayarts/wp-content/uploads/sites/276/2020/06/Watson.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:34 — 9.8MB) Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS The post Ross Watson – Artist appeared first on Sunday Arts Magazine.

This week, Ross Watson and Darryl Mott Jr. honor the best in gaming for 2013. From board games to roleplaying games, from accessories to media, we give our picks for what we feel are the best of the year past. We chose our winners based on our own personal, subjective opinions and then give our reasons. Was there a game we left off? Leave us a comment and let us know! (Originally released on January 31, 2014) Full show notes and current content available on http://gamerstavernshow.com

What makes a character fun to play? We go over all the tricks to make your PCs more interesting, dynamic, and fun. Award winning author Elizabeth Bear and award winning Writer/Producer/Actress Joanna Gaskell join award willing game designer Ross Watson and…just Darryl Mott Jr. to discuss how to create player characters that not only make the game more fun for you, but also for the other players and gamemaster. (Originally released March 21, 2014) Full show notes and current content available on http://gamerstavernshow.com

Everyone can rattle all nine off the top of their heads. But what do each of the alignments actually mean? Ross and Darryl can’t agree, so how can the gaming community? And do we even need alignments anymore? In this episode, your hosts Ross Watson and Darryl Mott Jr. go it alone as they discuss one of the biggest flamewar igniting topics in gaming – Alignment! (Originally released May 4, 2014) Full show notes and current content available on http://gamerstavernshow.com

Dungeons & Dragons is the reason we’re in this hobby. Everyone plays it. But how much do you know about where it came from? Ross Watson and Darryl Mott Jr. are flying solo as they talk about the history of the most popular roleplaying game on the planet, its origins, and the entire TSR era. (Originally released December 20, 2013) Full show notes and current content available on http://gamerstavernshow.com

Episode 100 - "Da Undred Show" - Get ready to Waaaagh with James and Mike as we bring you our centenary show right at the conclusion of Orktober. With a hundred shows now under our belt we welcome back some of our favourite guests including Ross Watson and Tim Huckelbery for a bit of a retrospective on what got us to this point. We also celebrate the season with a deeper look at the Ork Boy archetype and finally share some messages from fans of the games and our show.

Dog and Thimble returns to bring a little light into the grimdark world of Warhammer 40K, this time by playing the new RPG, Wrath and Glory with game designer Ross Watson! Will  the gang discover the cure for the abacus plague? The only way to find out, is by listening!

In today’s episode, Morrus and Peter wonder what the greatest D&D video game of all time is! We also cover the latest RPG news including Warhammer 40K: Wrath & Glory, a BioWare developer’s new Dungeons & Dragons setting, Joe Manganiello’s new D&D clothing line, more Pathfinder playtest news, and more, plus play our favourite game in all the world and listen in as the Monster Psychologist helps a troll with an odd phobia. Support Our Podcast On Patreon! Support our podcast with a small monthly donation and help to keep it going! As a bonus, you'll get access to our Outtakes & Deleted Scenes bonus podcast each week which contains bloopers, as well as additional content!  https://www.patreon.com/morrus   Show Notes ------------------------------- Caught Our Eyes Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay: Wrath & Glory http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5402-Ross-Watson-talks-Wrath-Glory! BioWare Developer James Ohlen Forms Tabletop RPG Company Arcanum Worlds, Making Odyssey of the Dragon Lords for Dungeons & Dragons 5e http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5412-Baldur-s-Gate-Designer-Leaves-Bioware-To-Form-D-D-Publishing-Company ------------------------------- News Joe Manganliello’s New D&D Clothing Line https://www.death-saves.com/ The Witcher RPG http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5389-The-Witcher-RPG-to-Debut-At-GenCon! ENnie Awards Voting http://www.ennie-awards.com/ Pathfinder Playtest Character Sheet Previews http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5409-Pathfinder-2-Character-Sheet-1-Fumbus-Goblin-Alchemist ------------------------------- Kickstarters The Complete White Ship Campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/563681582/the-complete-white-ship-campaign-1eand5e-mega-adve City of Brass https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/froggodgames/city-of-brass-epic-adventure-for-5e-and-swords-and Grimtooth’s Trapsylvania https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1409961192/grimtooths-trapsylvania-dcc-sourcebook Operation: Arctic Blast https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/newcometgames/operation-arctic-blast-a-top-secret-nwo-adventure

Ross Watson just needed one more donut, so Craig and I chatted with him about Black Panther!   ** Spoilers!! **

Ross Watson, 40k fluffmaster, is back in the third chair! Up first we catch up with Ross and find out what is this brand new Warhammer 40,000 RPG he's been working on: Wrath and Glory. Later Ross, Craig, and Russ take a close look at the recently re-released Necrumunda by Games Workshop.  Is this thing more than just nostalgia?  All that plus:   - Total Fan Girl - Do You Ever Notice - App of the Ep  -  & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:     ==Quick Reference== - Ap of the Ep (Into the Breach) - 58 min  - Wrath & Glory - 1 hr 3 min  - Total Fan Girl - 1 hr 46 min  - Necrumunda 2018- 1 hr 53 min    Links Discussed in the show: Craig's Blog: Russ's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Dice Tower Network:                   

Episode 93 - "Imperium Sanctis" - Once again we take a look at the latest news on Wrath and Glory starting with the latest designer diary and a bunch of important dates from Ulisses North America. We then sit down and chat again with lead developer Ross Watson for a few key reveals about the upcoming game.

40k fluff master Ross Watson joins us in Dunks to talk about the new approach GW appears to be taking with the 40k background.

Episode 163 sees The Independent Characters return after a short delay due to illness of one of the guest hosts. When we come back though, we come back strong! This episode is an extended "Warrior Lodge". The Warrior Lodge segments are a moderated discussion about topics which are relevant to the Warhammer universe and community in which we all participate. To help us through this episode, we have three special guests who have joined us on previous episodes. Colin, Jody, and Josh join Carl to talk about topics which have been on our minds and possibly the minds of others throughout the community. Then we launch into a special interview with Ross Watson. You may know the name from all of the work on the RPG Warhammer 40k games from Fantasy Flight Studios. Ross is working on a new Warahammer 40k RPG, called "Wrath and Glory" with a brand new publisher. We get a bit of the inside scoop on what is going on with this new game and what we can expect! We hope you enjoy the show. Time Stamps: 0:00:00 - Show Intro and Host Introduction 0:07:15 - Workbench and Hobby Progress 1:04:15 - Warrior Lodge Part 1 1:45:45 - Warrior Lodge Part 2 2:34:40 - Interview with Ross Watson 2:59:00 - Final Thoughts and Show Closing Relevant Links: KR Multicase - SPONSOR Tablewar! - SPONSOR Wargamma - SPONSOR Forge World Games Workshop The Black Library Wargames for Warriors Charity Event Link for Bran will go here once I have it - sorry  

Episode 163 sees The Independent Characters return after a short delay due to illness of one of the guest hosts. When we come back though, we come back strong! This episode is an extended "Warrior Lodge". The Warrior Lodge segments are a moderated discussion about topics which are relevant to the Warhammer universe and community in which we all participate. To help us through this episode, we have three special guests who have joined us on previous episodes. Colin, Jody, and Josh join Carl to talk about topics which have been on our minds and possibly the minds of others throughout the community. Then we launch into a special interview with Ross Watson. You may know the name from all of the work on the RPG Warhammer 40k games from Fantasy Flight Studios. Ross is working on a new Warahammer 40k RPG, called "Wrath and Glory" with a brand new publisher. We get a bit of the inside scoop on what is going on with this new game and what we can expect! We hope you enjoy the show. Time Stamps: 0:00:00 - Show Intro and Host Introduction 0:07:15 - Workbench and Hobby Progress 1:04:15 - Warrior Lodge Part 1 1:45:45 - Warrior Lodge Part 2 2:34:40 - Interview with Ross Watson 2:59:00 - Final Thoughts and Show Closing Relevant Links: KR Multicase - SPONSOR Tablewar! - SPONSOR Wargamma - SPONSOR Forge World Games Workshop The Black Library Wargames for Warriors Charity Event Link for Bran will go here once I have it - sorry  

We talk with Ross Watson about the brand spank'in new RPG for Warhammer 40k called "Wrath &Glory".

Episode 86 - "Three Decades of Service" - This episode we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Warhammer 40k, notably with something of a retrospective on the product line, and also a review of the original Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader book. We also welcome Ross Watson back to the show for our first live chat about Wrath and Glory.

GenCon for Those Who Gen-Can’t! Zack and Jason bring you all of the exciting news and reveals from GenCon 2017! Exclusive interviews with: Phil Kelly, Lead Designer and Writer for Warhammer 40K, 8th edition by Games Workshop https://www.games-workshop.com Ross Watson, ( https://twitter.com/therosswatson ) Head Writer of Wrath and Glory, the upcoming Warhammer 40K roleplay game by Ulisses North America http://www.ulisses-us.com/ Aaron Darland, Game Developer for Wyrd Games https://www.wyrd-games.net/ Mike Chenault, Game Developer for Cool Mini Or Not’s Song of Ice and Fire miniatures game https://cmon.com/ Joseph Goodman of Goodman Games http://goodman-games.com/ …and many more! All the plastic crack news in one show!

Host Gina DiPietro sits down with crossfit super mom Emily Breeze Ross Watson (24m 20sec) to learn more about what drives this fitness star's new trend, how she handles juggling a business, being a mom, and inspiring thousands of dedicated and passionate followers. She’ll also discuss the Blessing Box campaign with the wizard of About Face Charlotte Dana Endsley (7m 10sec), and learn more about some creative healthy living programs happening within the City of Charlotte with Denada Jackson (41m 39sec).

Ross Watson, RPG writer about town, is back in the third chair! We catch up with Ross on his latest project, Savage Rifts: Adapting the classic Rifts RPG into the Savage Worlds system.  How did the Kickstarter end up? Where is the project now and what can we look forward to? Later we dive into a DM'ing tips and tricks session when Russ tries to create a new term: "The Tactical Narrative."  What the heck is that and why should you try to make one as a game master? All that plus:    - Total Fan Girl - Do You Ever Notice - App of the Ep -  & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:        ==Quick Reference== App of the Ep: 42 min - War room 2 Savage Rifts: 51 min  Total Fan Girl: 1 hr 21 min DMing the Tactical Narrative:  1 hr 27 min    Links Discussed in the show: Craig's Blog: Russ's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Dice Tower Network:             

Prolific RPG writter Ross Watson joins us to talk about this years crop of super hero movies.  What do we think?

Ross Watson of Accursed fame and Shaintar's Sean Patrick Fannon join us for the first of our World Builders interviews. We've been talking about our World Builder interviews since the start of the show so we're excited to bring you the first in what we hope is a long series delving into the thought process behind bringing you many and varied settings to play in. SBN Podcast says goodbye after 41 episodes Fear the Boot celebrates 10 years and over 400 episodes Savage Bull is now helping with the setting Savage Mommy is currently working on. More info later. Tacticon Guest: Karl Keesler 1980's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, 1970's League Game, Goonies Meets the Ghostbusters and Mystery Men Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett © 2015 Cirque du Soleil Game Submissions for Tacticon (9/1 through 9/4 2016) are open The first 10 GMs to submit games can win opening night VIP tickets to Turok (James Cameron’s Avatar meets Cirque de Soleil) coming to the Pepsi Center July 21st. Tacticon Theme: Super Heroes DriveThru RPG 25% off Sale on Super Hero products: SW Super Powers Companion, Necessary Evil 2: Breakout, Peacekeepers: SW, The Kerberos Club Weird War I Adventure The 13th Warrior Released Join the airmen of British XIII Squadron as they take the fight to the skies of Europe. Stand against German pilots, social rivals, dark sorcery, and a titanic hunter beyond your wildest nightmares!  The 13th Warrior adventure from Shane Hensley is the “War Never-Ending” stretch goal from the Weird War I Kickstarter. Achtung! Cthulhu - Shadows of Atlantis Campaign Achtung! Cthulhu: Keeper's Guide Not SW, but cool none the less: Anvil: the TRUE USER-FRIENDLY 3D printer for EVERYONE $299.00!! Ends Thu, Jun 9 2016 We're doing a crossover show with the fellas from The Wild Die Podcast. We're taking user questions.  So e-mail us. Savage Mommy will be at Gen Con. He's looking for people to interview. Publishers and fans. If you want to be on the show, e-mail us. Appearing: Chris Fuchs, Christopher Landauer, Ross Watson, Sean Patrick Fannon Intro: Derek Johnson Music: Jib Editing: Landauer

Mommy and Bull leave the safety of their caves to join Sean Patrick Fannon for a sneak peak at the upcoming Savage Worlds RIFTS setting. During our interview, Sean answers how he got Kevin Siembieda to let his baby go play with the Savage Worlds kids, how the SW version handles stuff like MEGA DAMAGE, what old favorites from the original Palladium line will make their return, where the timeline will start, why [conversion] is the wrong idea, new artwork, and where to follow the progress. Sean will be back on future shows GMing the RIFTS actual play we recorded and answering our questions on world building, game design, and his history in gaming. Also on this episode .... SavageCast joined Kristian Serrano and Ron Blessing on the Savage Bloggers Network [watch the video] [listen to the podcast].  We talked about how the Rocky Mountain Savages came about and the legacy of old pod casts spawning new pod casts and SW groups and the butterfly effect that brings us a large and growing Savage Community across the country and now the world over. Chime in: Derek Johnson vs. Kristian Serrano, who has the most velvety Savage Worlds podcasting voice? Olympus Inc. is crowdfunding NOW on IndieGoGo.  Support them and get a really interesting campaign setting. * Weird War I: GM Screen Inserts New Adventure: Raid on Fort Douaumont Pre-order Bundle at Pinnacle store Player's Guide, War Master's Handbook, on discount at DriveThruRPG, Combat Maps also available *Melior Via continues to expand their Accursed setting with the last PDF in the World of Morden series, Accursed: Bone and Barrow. * Codex Infernus: The Savage Guide to Hell from Gun Metal Games Now available on DriveThruRPG $14.99 - New Edges, Arcane Backgrounds, Demonic Races - Guidelines for creating angelic and hell-forged weapons, blessing items, creating cults, demonic possession and pacts with the devil, a gazetteer and a history of hell according to various cultures * Primeval Thule Campaign Setting for Savage Worlds from Sasquatch Game Studio PDF $19.95 Primeval Thule is a sword-and-sorcery campaign setting now redesigned for Savage Worlds in conjunction with Ross Watson and Sean Patrick Fannon of Evil Beagle Games! * Fuhgeddaboudit! from Just Insert Imagination - Pay What You Want Fuhgeddaboudit! is a mob and road movie, sandbox adventure for Savage Worlds. It is Las Vegas, 1968 and your group has been ordered to make a troublesome accountant disappear. It's a pleasant drive out to the desert, what could possibly go wrong? - Make them an offer they can’t refuse * New banner on the PEG site. Could this be a clue to something coming up real soon? * Product links on our website are now affiliate links with DriveThruRPG, so if you want to pick up one of the games we mention or anything else at DriveThruRPG, use our link or click through to the site with the DriveThruRPG banner ad and SavageCast will earn credit with the site at no cost to you. You buy games so we can buy games, then we’ll tell you about those games and the circle continues. Appearing: Christopher Landauer, Chris Fuchs, Sean Patrick Fannon, Carinn Seabolt, Wendy Reischl Intro: Derek Johnson Music: Mike Willard Editing: Chris Sniezak

Episode 62 - "Ship Shape" - We delve in to all aspects of ships in our latest Rogue Trader episode. First off, we have an interview with Ross Watson about the new Battlefleet Gothic computer game. We also review Fallen Suns, take a new approach to our career discussion and talk about the importance of the ship as a character.

Guests John Dunn and Ross Watson join hosts Ron Blessing and Kristian Serrano for a Savage Bloggers Network Hangout on Air to discuss the details of Melior Via’s new Kickstarter Campaign for Accursed: World of Morden, a collection of supplements detailing the world of Morden. Tune in to learn all about the crowdfunding campaign and […]

Guests John Dunn and Ross Watson join hosts Ron Blessing and Kristian Serrano for a Savage Bloggers Network Hangout on Air to discuss the details of Melior Via’s new Kickstarter Campaign for Accursed: World of Morden, a collection of supplements detailing the world of Morden. Tune in to learn all about the crowdfunding campaign and […]

We get talk to Ross Watson and Michael Surbrook on their work with the upcoming 2nd edition of Aaron Allston's groundbreaking Hero System supplement: STRIKE FORCE!

Ross Watson, the master of grim dark and RPG's is back in the 3rd chair!  Up first Craig and Russ 'rap with Ross' to find out what he's been up to since last he was on the show. Lot's of exciting projects for RPG fans. Later we leverage Ross's massive Warhammer 40,000 experience and give a detailed review of Fantasy Flight Game's Forbidden Stars. The conquest game set in Games Workshop's WH40K universe! All that plus:    - Total Fan Girl - Do You Ever Notice  - The Hollywood Minute - App of the Ep -  & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:        ==Quick Reference== App of the Ep:  1 hr 7 min Rap'n with Ross: 1 hr 11 min  Total Fan Girl: 1 hr 50 min Hollywood Minute: 1 hr 57 min Forbidden Stars Review:  2 hr 6 min     Links Discussed in the show: Craig's Blog: Russ's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Dice Tower Network:     

Ross Watson joins Craig and Russ to talk running RPG One Offs, particularly at conventions.

Episode 45 - "The Little Guy" - In our latest Only War show, we welcome Ross Watson back to the show as he talks about the new Regicide computer game. We also review the Eleventh Hour, take a detailed look at the Ratling and discuss some tips for encounter building.

This is yet another panel from Comicpalooza 2015 about world building in RPGs. It features Lenny Balsera, Ross Watson, Marshall Ryan Maresca, and Dave Martin. Enjoy! Support Role Playing Public Radio on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/RPPR/ The post Panel: World Building at Comicpalooza 2015 appeared first on Role Playing Public Radio.

This is another panel I recorded at Comicpalooza this year, featuring Dave Martin from the Wrecking Crew, Ross Watson, and Lenny Balsera from Evil Hat. They talk about designing memorable and effective villains for your game. Enjoy! Support Role Playing Public Radio on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/RPPR/ The post RPPR Panel: Villains at Comicpalooza 2015 appeared first on Role Playing Public Radio.

Transcript -- Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

Episode 17 - "Punching Baneblades" - It's interview time again and this time around we are chatting to Ross Watson, former line producer for the 40k RPGs at FFG. We also examine the Explorator career, review Battlefleet Koronus and take a deeper look at returning lost worlds to the Imperium.

In which Mr. Johnson talks Shadowrun with Ross Watson and Darryl Mott Jr. of the Gamer's Tavern Podcast, plus a new listener story!

Jeff sits down with John Dunn and Ross Watson to discuss Accursed, a dark fantasy setting for the Savage Worlds RPG system; on Kickstarter through October 13, 2013.   Interview [00:00:21] John Dunn and Ross Watson   Accursed RPG Kickstarter: http://kck.st/17V6gNM Accursed website: http://www.accursedrpg.com/     Credits Music: Dan-O  … Read the rest

Ross Watson, RPG designer and consummate gaming professional, joins us in the third chair!   Up first Ross and fellow designers John Dunn and Jason Marker join us to talk about their upcoming RPG Accursed. What is the universe like and what makes the game unique? Later Ross, Craig, and Russ dive into what it means to be a professional in the gaming industry and why it's important. All that and our other not-too-horrible segments including:  - Total Fan Girl - Do You Ever Notice  - The Hollywood Minute - News - & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:  , on behalf of friendly, professional gaming stores everywhere. , latest gaming news, great stores, & more!    ==Quick Reference== The News:   1 hr 4 min Accursed RPG Interview:  1 hr 13 min Total Fan Girl: 2 hr 2 min Professionalism in Gaming: 2 hr 26 min     Links Discussed in the show: Craig's Blog: Russ's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Pulp Gamer Network:     

Ross Watson returns to the show to join Craig and Russ and help us all learn about Shadowrun, one of the most beloved Sci-fi RPGs.

Special extended edition! A Deathwatch Warhammer 40,000 RPG session lead by designer Ross Watson featuring Russ, Craig, and a cast of other podcast hosts.  Recorded live at GenCon 2012.

In episode 91 the third chair is filled by Ross Watson.  A gaming industry professional for over 10 years, Ross Watson has done work for Wizards of the Coast, Games Workshop, Fantasy Flight Games and now is a designer for video games. First up, Ross, Craig, and Russ are joined by Teras of Geek Nation Tours to talk about Gaming Conventions. Why do we go to them?  What are the different kinds of conventions?   Later the guys get a chance to interview Ed "Not the Lord of Winterfell" Stark.  Ed is true RPG luminary and we get his perspective on where RPG's have been, where they're going, and even the inside scoop on some of the D&D 3.5 to 4.0 design decisions.  All that and our other not-too-horrible segments including:  - The Hollywood Minute - Total Fan Girl - Do You Ever Notice - & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:  , on behalf of friendly, professional gaming stores everywhere.      ==Quick Reference== The News:   53 min Convension Conversation:  1 hr 2 min Hollywood Minute: 2 hr 0 min Total Fan Girl: 2 hr 9 min Ed Stark Interview: 2 hr 21 min     Links Discussed in the show: D&D Retrospecitve Book: Old TSR Links: Raef's Blog:  Craig's Blog: Russ's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Pulp Gamer Network:     

Craig, Russ, and special guest Ross Watson present an RPG primer.  How do they work, how have they evolved, and what do you need to play?

In Book 8 Ross Watson, RPG designer from Fantasy Flight Games, joins Russ and Raef as they discuss RPG philosophy. What is the best way to play an RPG? Or is there one?

IBM wants to change the subject, but Dave doesn't fall for it.

Episode 59 is truly Epic, both in length and content!   First up the D6G team welcomes back Ross Watson from Fantasy Flight Games.  Ross brings us up to speed on the latest Warhammer 40,000 role playing game: Deathwatch.  Now you can play Space Marines!  How do the different chapters work?  What new Chapter did FFG invent?  What makes it different from Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader? With all that talk of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Raef, Craig, and Russ felt it was time to tackle Epic: Armageddon.  Small in scale doesn't mean small in game play.  We discuss the game in detail. And be sure to catch Total Fan Girl this week as she interviews three pro-gamers from the "Fragdolls."  What is it like to be a gamer on the pro vid-game circuit? All that and our other not-too-horrible segments including:  - Rapid Fire - The Hollywood Minute - The News - & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: .   The following fine organizations help make this show possible:  , on behalf of friendly, professional gaming stores everywhere.         ==Quick Reference== The News:  53 min Deathwatch Interview:  59 min Hollywood Minute: 2hr  6min Total Fan Girl: 2hr 16 min Epic Armageddon Detailed Review: 2 hr 38 min      Links Discussed in the show: Storm Wardens Charity: Craig's Bookshelf:  Raef's Blog:  Craig's Blog:  Total Fan Girl Blog:  Pulp Gamer Network:     

Ascension, Star Trek, and Sea of Blood all in one show? We cram it all in. Up first is an interview with Ross Watson of Fantasy Flight Games. He gives us the scoop on Ascension, the latest expansion to the Warhammer 40k RPG Dark Heresy. Later, Total Fan Girl interviews the lead writter for Cryptic Studio's upcoming MMO Star Trek Online. Finally the guys set sail in a detailed review of Descent: Sea of Blood. How does this new expansion add to the Descent game system.   All that and our usual 'not too horrible' humor, with features such as: - The Hollywood Minute - Rapid Fire- What's in the News- Achievements in Gaming- & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: . The following fine organizations help make this show possible: , on behalf of friendly, professional gaming stores everywhere.    ==Quick Reference== The News:  1 hr 13 min Ascension Interview: 1 hr 18 min Hollywood Minute: 2hr 22 min Star Trek Online Interview (TFG): 2 hr 31 min Sea of Blood: 2h 51 m     Discussed in the show: Raef's Blog: Craig's Blog: Total Fan Girl Blog: Wargamer Radio Network: Pulp Gamer Network:  

Highlights this episode include a Rogue Trader RPG interview and a detailed review of Arcane Legions. First we interview Ross Watson, Fantasy Flight Games' lead man on the Warhammer 40,000 themed RPG's Dark Heresy and the new "Rogue Trader."  We find out what to expect in this new edition to the 40k RPG line up. Later the D6G team gets into the details on exactly how the new hybrid game Arcane Legions works.  We've had our hands on two of the demo kits, the first was from Origins and the second is the updated kit with the improved models.  We've assembled the miniatures and played the game and we're ready to share our thoughts. All that and our usual 'not too horrible' humor, with features such as: - When Wives Attack - The Hollywood Minute - Achivements in Gaming - The Score- & More [Note: We know our shows are long, so now we've added time offsets to help you find the major segments quickly.  See below] If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: . The following fine organizations help make this show possible: , on behalf of friendly, professional gaming stores everywhere.      ==Quick Reference== Ross Watson Rogue Trader Interview: 1hr 24 min When Wives Attack: 2 hr 29 min The Score: 2 hr 49 min Arcane Legions Detailed Review: 3 hr 2 min Discussed in the show: When Wives Attack Blog: Craig's Blog: Wargamer Radio Network: Pulp Gamer Network:  

In Episode 21 we interview Ross Watson, senior RPG Developer at Fantasy Flight Games and the man responsible for the future of the Warhammer 40,000 roleplaying game "Dark Heresy".  Ross talks about his position at FFG and what the future holds for the game. In response to listener requests, the D6G team list what they consider "must own games" for any gamer.  Get an idea of what Raef, Russ, and Craig's favorites are, as well as gift ideas for the holiday season. This epsiode also features the world premier of the D6 Generation's first "Not Too Horrible" hit single.  Of course, we're using the term 'hit single' very loosely. All that and our usual 'not too horrible' humor, with features such as: - When Wives Attack - Rapid Fire - The Hollywood Minute - Contests- Words from Wales- & More If you'd like to discuss the show with us and others in our forum thread: . Advertisers this episode: Links Mentioned this episode: FFG Dark Heresy Scenario Contest: Fantasy Flight Game's Android: When Wives Attack Blog: Craig's Blog: Owen's Website: Wargamer Radio Network: