Podcasts about rpgs

Hydra fights, Dark Sun dilemmas, Unearthed Arcana chaos—what could go wrong? Want more Unearthed Arcana deep dives? The RPGBOT.Podcast has you covered. You can find our backlog of episodes on every major podcast platform, where we break down the latest D&D playtest material and show you how to wrangle it into your campaigns without summoning your own TPK. Show Notes In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew saddles up for an apocalyptic romp through Pathfinder Hydra encounters, the gritty survival world of Dark Sun, and the latest Unearthed Arcana subclasses. We start by revisiting a Hydra battle that demanded every ounce of tactical brilliance (and a fair bit of screaming). From there, we dive deep into Dark Sun—where scarcity, moral dilemmas, and Mad Max vibes dominate play. The hosts then dig into new subclass content: the eco-warrior Circle of Preservation Druid, the crowd-pleasing Gladiator Fighter, the life-siphoning Defiled Sorcerer, and the fear-driven Sorcerer King. Along the way, we tackle the eternal question of whether Strength is viable for Intimidation, explore multi-classing optimization, and share DM tips for balancing player knowledge with campaign secrets. It's a mix of theorycrafting, subclass reviews, and a healthy dose of comedy—because what's Dark Sun without a laugh before the water runs out? Key Takeaways Hydra encounters in Pathfinder = epic, sweaty, and strategy-heavy. Dark Sun campaigns bring unique challenges: scarcity, moral dilemmas, and Mad Max vibes. Circle of Preservation Druids = conservationists with a vengeance. Gladiator Fighters use charisma as a weapon (and crowd engagement as a combat mechanic). Defiled Sorcerers introduce life-draining spellcasting mechanics. Sorcerer King subclasses lean into control, fear, and psionics. Strength for intimidation is officially fun again. Multi-classing optimization remains a go-to for tactical players. Campaign success = good mechanics + solid DM/Player communication. Subclass excitement shows Unearthed Arcana is moving in a promising direction. If you enjoyed this episode, like and subscribe to the RPGBOT.Podcast on your favorite platform. Share it with your tabletop roleplaying friends—because nothing says friendship like convincing them to fight a Hydra in Dark Sun with only a rusty dagger and a half-baked subclass build. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

So Your Players Think They're Safe? Release the Aboleth! Want more Dungeons & Dragons monster tips, horror encounter design, and campaign advice? Visit RPGBOT.net—where real humans craft real tools for roleplayers and dungeon masters. Show Notes The RPGBOT.Podcast crew takes a deep dive into one of the most disturbing D&D monsters ever created: the Aboleth. These ancient aquatic horrors are more than slimy tentacle-fish—they're campaign-defining villains that bring cosmic horror, body horror, and psychological dread to any tabletop RPG. The hosts break down: How to use Aboleths in D&D campaigns as long-term masterminds instead of one-off encounters. Why their perfect memory makes Aboleths terrifying villains who can twist your world's history. The nastiest Aboleth lair actions and encounter design tactics to challenge even high-level adventurers. How to run underwater adventures in 5e without losing tension or immersion. Tips for roleplaying Aboleth thralls and the body-horror impact of their mucus-breathing curse. How to weave Aboleths into cosmic horror storylines that rival Lovecraftian nightmares. This episode blends mechanics, lore, and villain design into a perfect toolkit for dungeon masters who want to unleash aquatic monster encounters their players will never forget. Key Takeaways Aboleths are best used as campaign villains, not just combat encounters. Their lore and psychic abilities can reshape a world. Body horror is central—their mucus curse forces players to roleplay slime-breathing, making encounters unforgettable. Aboleths shine in cosmic horror campaigns where memory, paranoia, and legacy matter. Their lair actions and psychic domination make them one of the most dangerous aquatic monsters in TTRPGs. Dungeon masters can elevate horror games by pairing Aboleths with underwater settings, forgotten history, and long-term psychological threats. Ready to terrify your players? Subscribe to the RPGBOT.Podcast and visit RPGBOT.net for more D&D monster guides, tabletop RPG horror tips, and encounter design advice. Because nothing ruins game night quite like discovering your lungs now breathe slime. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

It's day 30 of #RPGaDay2025 and we're talking about non-Experience based benefits in RPGs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reddicediaries.substack.com

It's day 30 of #RPGaDay2025 and we're talking about non-Experience based benefits in RPGs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reddicediaries.substack.com

It's his birthday, so we're letting TL take over the wheel -- or the cockpit, as it were -- to walk us through a retrospective of sorts about the various genres of mech video games, inspired by this week's release of Super Robot Wars Y. From fighters to tactical RPGs and everything in between, if you like games about giant robots you pilot and punch things with, this top 5 is for you.  After that, we cover the other new releases this week, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, then offer up a few more thoughts on things we've been playing like Sword of the Sea, Mafia: The Old Country, and Death Stranding 2.  Question of the Week: Which famous mech from pop culture would win in an ultimate mech battle royale and why? Break Song is "When the Mechs Hit the Ground" by NerdOut Vidjagame Apocalypse theme by Matthew Joseph Payne.    

Matt & Geoff are joined by Tyler Mire, Producer and Composer of the recently released Quartet, from Something Classic Games. Something Classic makes throwback RPGs that feel like how we remember them, but can be finished by people with busy schedules. Tyler discusses the process of planning out Quartet, composing the soundtrack, and keeping a classic feel while giving a modern gaming experience. You can find Quartet on Steam. You can find Something Classic on Bluesky and Twitter We have a Patreon! Gain access to episode shout outs, bonus content, early downloads of regular episodes, an exclusive rss feed and more! Click here! You can find the show on Bluesky, Instagram and YouTube! Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! Rate us on Spotify! Wanna join the Certain POV Discord? Click here!  

Today we're talking about Experience Points in RPGs (primarily Palladium), some of the common methods for awarding them, and our own preferences as GMs. This round table topic was suggested by one of our Discord users, and provided way more fodder than expected! Thanks for the suggestion, and keep them coming folks! Drop us a line! You can follow us (sporadically) on Facebook, and we'd love to see you on our Discord Channel too. And let us know your thoughts by leaving a review on iTunes or any other podcast aggregate sites. For even more info and options, check out our main website or our low-bandwidth alternative feed site. Links of Note: Rifts RPG 1st Edition, Digital Rifts RPG Ultimate Edition, Digital Rifts Ultimate Edition, Hardcover A Cloak of Blades, by Isaac Sher Credits: Hosts: NPC, Just Jacob, and Matt Buckley Music: Opening is "8-Bit bass & lead" by Furbyguy, Closing is "Caravana" by Phillip Gross Episode Length (We support chapters!): 1:06:38 Glitter Boys, Rifts, the Megaverse, and all other such topics are the property of Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books. Please buy all their stuff and help keep them in print and making more games! You can order directly at palladiumbooks.com, and their entire catalog is available digitally at Drive-Thru RPG as well. We release all of our public episodes simultaneously on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuc8KbdMqx8ajWfm2OUTs7A Audio RSS: https://breakfastpuppies.com/feed/glitterbois Want to help us pay for hosting? We have a few options: Drop us a one-time donation or a recurring membership at our Ko-Fi page Follow this link to our Pinecast Tip Jar We've got a merch store if you're looking for some sweet Glitterbois swag. Check out our affiliate store and buy some of the various products we endorse. Support The Glitterbois by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-glitterbois Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-glitterbois/f111372b-4fa5-4e6e-ac53-194faf5d94fc This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-66e5ee for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Glitterbois.

After nearly a month without a live show together, Joe and Jared are back to do an all-RPG episode focusing on crunchy vs. non-crunchy systems, how to teach your table the rules, and the elements that should come together to pull off a true marathon game session. 0:00 Intro 8:00 Three Question 23:35 Crunch 1:01:25 Rules 1:45:45 Marathon Gaming 1:57:45 Listener Award Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jointhenaish.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strap on your Shardplate and call your Spren—Episode 2 of our How to Play Stormlight Archive RPG series takes a lore-heavy dive into the Cosmere, exploring worldbuilding, Knights Radiant, and everything you need to roleplay in Roshar's storm-tossed setting. Our archive episodes of the RPGBOT.Podcast are now available on YouTube! Relive every tangent, deep dive, and Shardblade-sharpened insight while YouTube autoplay keeps you binging. Show Notes In this second episode of the Stormlight Archive RPG series, the RPGBOT crew explores the lore of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere and how it translates into tabletop roleplaying games. If Episode 1 was about concepts and themes, Episode 2 is all about the deep cuts—ancient oaths, cosmic forces, and worldbuilding that makes campaigns shine. We discuss the Knights Radiant, their broken history, and the role of Heralds in shaping the moral landscape of the world. From the caste system of Alethi culture to the gender-based taboos that define everyday life, players will discover how to use social structures as storytelling tools. The conversation covers iconic magical elements like Shardblades and Shardplate, how Spren bonds give Radiants their powers, and the dangers of the Everstorm. We also dive into Shadesmere—the Cognitive Realm—and how it offers surreal roleplaying opportunities. Finally, we examine the influence of Honor, Cultivation, and Odium, and the shocking revelation that the Parshendi are the Voidbringers, reframing the conflict of Roshar in ways ripe for campaign drama. This is your guide to using Stormlight Archive lore in tabletop RPGs—whether you're designing your own system, adapting 5E, or just looking for inspiration to roleplay in the Cosmere. Key Takeaways Cosmere lore fuels storytelling: Stormlight Archive's worldbuilding is more than flavor—it's a blueprint for RPG campaigns. Alethi society and caste systems: Lighteyes vs. darkeyes and cultural taboos create ready-made roleplaying conflict. Heralds and Radiants in RPGs: Legendary figures and broken oaths inspire both heroic arcs and tragic backstories. Shardblades & Shardplate explained: More than magic gear—they're political, cultural, and narrative game-changers. Spren bonds in roleplaying: Spren are like emotional support familiars with snark—perfect for deep roleplay dynamics. Shadesmere and the Cognitive Realm: A surreal alternate plane for campaigns, complete with “dead-eyed” Shardblades. The Everstorm as a narrative clock: A looming apocalyptic threat that keeps tension high in every story. Honor, Cultivation, and Odium in RPG storytelling: Cosmic forces that anchor themes of growth, oaths, and destruction. Singers, Parshendi, and Voidbringers: Lore that reframes morality, turning NPCs into complex factions for campaigns. If you want to roleplay in the Stormlight Archive or bring Cosmere lore into your tabletop RPG, this episode is your deep dive into the storm. Listen now, then explore guides and mechanics at RPGBOT.net, where real humans craft real tools for roleplayers. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ Meet the Hosts: Tyler Kamstra – The tactical mind behind RPGBOT.net, Tyler sees the Pathfinder action economy like Neo sees the Matrix. Randall James – Technologist, lore enthusiast, and fully prepared to duel Peter Jackson over which LotR edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare. Fueled by sarcasm and sweet, sweet table-flipping energy. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

On this week's episode of The RPG Cave, Garret and Ryan talk all about the RPG reveals from Gamescom 2025, plus we have impressions of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter! ★ LINKS ★► Get Exclusive Perks on on Patreon: https://patreon.com/carpoolgaming► Join our amazing Discord community: https://discord.gg/eBKUyABg8U► Get your Carpool Gaming merch: https://carpoolgaming.com/► Check us out on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/carpoolgaminglive► Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/carpoolgaming► Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/carpoolgaming.com★ ULTIMATE PRODUCERS ★Brendan Myers AKA The_WinterGamerJohnathan Brown: https://linktr.ee/pme.jibTechMike, who says "Whether you are Kevesi or Agnian, you're a Xenobabe at heart."★ PLATINUM PRODUCERS ★BennySmokin_JoeThe CaptainTim Paullin★ GOLD MEMBERS ★Adam KAnnaAwesomeDave1337Brad MooreBrian ReeseCecily CarrozzaDan & LumaDannohhEmily O'KelleyJon32LauraLigerWoods330Mr GigglesOldMrFrumpPeje EPSteven Keller

Griffin's favorite little fun breaks from frustrating RPGs! Rachel's favorite Napoleon-loved grocery store staple!Music: “Money Won't Pay” by bo en and Augustus – https://open.spotify.com/album/7n6zRzTrGPIHt0kRvmWoyaWorld Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

In Express episode 111, Don, Tony, and Jamie are inspired by a listener question and discuss patterns and fads in game design and try and answer the question - is there truly anything original out there?

Send us a textThis Week: Blackpowder Courtesy, Dissent, Mirror Image, Back from Sundermount, An Update, Family Matter, The Long Road, and Offered and LostNext Week: Act II Side Quests, All That Remains, The Captain's Condolences, To Catch a Thief (optional), and Demands of the QunDragon Age 2 Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11hISTe_UcimK0p5X0DqsPtSnQN-A4-9cETbz1P6VKGM/edit?usp=sharingGame Guide by Greg Boccia aka noz3r0 https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/988968-dragon-age-ii/faqs/61965Support the showContact: http://linktr.ee/squelchcast Support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/Squelch or https://www.twitch.tv/dan0play Join our Discord at https://discord.gg/HwPPtX627k

Al and Kev go through a list of 22 farming games Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:11: What Have We Been Up To 00:12:37: Game News 00:43:58: New Games 00:48:23: The 22 Best Steam Farming Games of all Time 01:33:28: Outro Links Whimside Herdling Ritual of Raven Abyss: New Dawn Star Birds Len’s Island “1.1” Update Disney Dreamlight Valley “Emotional Rescue” Update Overthrown “Coastal” Update Starsand Island Trailer Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition Infinity Nikki x Stardew Valley We Harvest Shadows Neverway The 22 Best Steam Farming Games of All Time Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season my name is al. (0:00:36) Kev: My name is Kevin and Al, you drop the ball, you miss the chance. (0:00:41) Kev: The way we should have started this week was, “Why is podcasting so hard?” (0:00:46) Al: Oh, disaster. Maybe we need to start that again. (0:00:49) Kev: Oh dear. (0:00:55) Kev: Yeah, it’s probably harder for Sakurai to make Kirby out. (0:00:59) Al: It’s true, though. But it’s not. It’s not true. It’s not hard. (0:01:06) Kev: AirRiders isn’t a podcast, probably. (0:01:06) Al: Yeah, yeah, that is true. Probably. Yeah, so we are here, as I said. (0:01:08) Kev: Well, that was a great direct. (0:01:16) Al: We’re gonna talk about Cuchco Games. Lots of Cuchco Games, because we have a list to talk about. (0:01:18) Kev: Yeah. (0:01:23) Al: There’s a list. Did I find this list? I found this list, didn’t I? This is a list on cozy game reviews (0:01:26) Kev: Yes, you did. (0:01:31) Al: of the 22 best Steam farming games of all time. Brackets updated for 2025. (0:01:38) Kev: What an apropos subject after last week’s episode. (0:01:44) Al: So we’re going to talk about that. (0:01:46) Al: Next we’re going to go through it and see if we agree because not only has it got them all listed, it says what they’re all best for. They’ve all got a specific thing that the writer thinks that they’re best for. (0:01:56) Kev: Which is a good move, um, well, you know, we’ll get to the list. We’ll get to the list. I like the list content (0:02:00) Al: It gives us something to talk about, so we’ll see how we go. (0:02:08) Al: Before that, we’ve got quite a lot of news. We’ll get into that soon, but first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:02:14) Kev: Oh, this is I’ve been thinking about this it’s been the hardest part for me to think about this week because I’ve been busy and not (0:02:22) Kev: a lot of the usuals (0:02:26) Kev: Let’s see here at battle can’t Sonic event finish, so I’m still playing but it’s it’s whatever (0:02:32) Kev: Pokemon unite is good (0:02:36) Kev: We had the world championships just last weekend, so we had announcements there (0:02:41) Kev: That was fun. I don’t even remember who it is now, but (0:02:45) Kev: Oh gosh, what is it? Oh, no, I have to look up the list (0:02:48) Kev: I don’t remember but I mean I’ve been playing it’s good the latte both lattes are out now (0:02:54) Kev: They’re pretty fun (0:02:55) Kev: Especially when you can actually play with someone and you can use them both because they so specifically designed to work with each other (0:03:03) Kev: So that’s pretty cool (0:03:07) Kev: But (0:03:08) Kev: Yeah, you know unite still play. It’s wild (0:03:12) Kev: We’re almost at a hundred playable Pokemon in the game (0:03:14) Kev: That’s wild to think (0:03:17) Kev: That’s like what almost 10% of the the techs (0:03:23) Kev: But but yeah, it’s been good. Oh gosh, I cannot (0:03:28) Kev: I don’t remember (0:03:32) Kev: Sorry, I was trying to Google it was stalled for talking but either way I’m playing unite it’s been good (0:03:39) Kev: Let’s see other than that, um, yeah, just a lot of the same as usual stuff. I’ve been playing (0:03:44) Kev: I picked up a new show now that I finished monk (0:03:48) Kev: Have you ever heard of dr. Quinn medicine woman now (0:03:54) Kev: Okay, so it is a show from the 90s it is (0:04:02) Kev: How should I put this frontier (0:04:05) Kev: Style American setting kind of like little house (0:04:06) Al: Okay, yeah. (0:04:09) Kev: But it’s a little more a little less saccharine (0:04:12) Kev: It is the titular character. (0:04:14) Kev: It is a female doctor, Dr. Quinn, which is, you know, given in that timeframe and setting, leads to a very different dynamic, right? (0:04:28) Kev: So yeah, it’s been enjoyable. I think it’s a little more “real” than, say, Little House or some of the other more… (0:04:42) Kev: Uh, I should… (0:04:45) Kev: It doesn’t paint over some of these details, so you know I’ve just been here enjoying a show about a (0:04:52) Kev: Trying to find a home and community (0:04:55) Kev: Despite the backdrop of a society where misogyny (0:05:00) Kev: bigotry racism et cetera are pretty strong, you know, I (0:05:06) Kev: Don’t know if that resonates with anyone, but you know (0:05:08) Al: Not at all, not at all. (0:05:11) Kev: So it’s been good (0:05:13) Kev: It is from the 90’s. (0:05:14) Kev: So it looks a little dated, um, and, and you can still feel the 90’s like hairstyles permeating the show though. (0:05:22) Kev: Um, but, uh, but, uh, but yeah, it’s been fun. (0:05:25) Kev: That’s Dr. (0:05:26) Kev: Quinn, medicine woman. (0:05:27) Kev: Like I said, just something to fill the, the show hole. (0:05:29) Kev: Um, but yeah, that’s, that’s, that’s roughly what I’ve been up to. (0:05:33) Kev: It’s been busy week. (0:05:34) Kev: I made it, I made like a two day, one day gone the next day back work trip this week. (0:05:39) Kev: That was wild. (0:05:40) Al: What have I been up to? (0:05:40) Kev: Um, yeah, so I’m tired. (0:05:42) Kev: What about you? (0:05:45) Al: I’m still playing Donkey Kong Bonanza, so it’s a long game. (0:05:50) Kev: All right (0:05:56) Kev: Yeah, it’s a lot of bananas to find (0:05:58) Al: It is a lot of bananas, yeah, I’ve put like maybe like 10 hours into it or something so (0:06:04) Al: far and I saw that there was a new world record put up today, so I went out to look at it (0:06:10) Al: and what I’ve done in that like 10 hours they did in 50 minutes, like oh goodness me, so (0:06:17) Al: I think I’ve got quite a lot of the game left to go because the world record is over four (0:06:21) Al: hours, so I’m maybe a quarter of the way through but that doesn’t feel right, but I don’t know. (0:06:29) Al: I did say, I think I said true endings, maybe that’s getting all the bananas, so maybe I’ve (0:06:33) Al: got, maybe I’m halfway, I might be about halfway through, we’ll see. (0:06:34) Kev: Hmm (0:06:37) Kev: Hmm have you done that art mode at all the the sculpting mode or whatever? (0:06:41) Al: I have not, no, I’ve not. (0:06:43) Kev: Okay, I’ve seen people do some crazy nonsense in them. That’s pretty cool (0:06:46) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah, I’m enjoying that, we’ll see how long that takes me, but this (0:06:57) Al: week I’ll probably be starting Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar, so who knows, how bizarre, so (0:07:02) Kev: How bizarre, how bizarre. (0:07:06) Al: I guess we’ll see a mate put down Donkey Kong for a bit. (0:07:10) Al: I think that’s pretty much it gaming wise. (0:07:17) Al: I’ve been catching up on a bunch of shows that I missed when I was on holiday, so I’ve (0:07:22) Al: just finished Sandman and it was good. (0:07:25) Kev: Oh, how was it? (0:07:28) Kev: Was it just weird? (0:07:30) Al: It was good if you can ignore the fact that it’s no gaming, then it’s good. (0:07:30) Kev: Okay. (0:07:34) Kev: Well, I feel like, you know, I feel like, in this day and age, (0:07:40) Kev: people get pretty good at that, if you just ignore the, you know, monster at the top. (0:07:42) Al: Well, yeah. Mm. So, yeah, no, that was good. And I think I’m going to watch Wednesday this (0:07:56) Al: week. So, yeah. (0:07:58) Kev: Oh, yeah, that’s all right. Okay. You know what you I assume you watch season one (0:08:05) Kev: Did you watch any Adams family prior to Wednesday (0:08:10) Kev: Okay, cuz I’m cuz I I’m a big fan of the animals family. Um, so I’m I had not watched Wednesday. So I’m curious how (0:08:17) Kev: That you know how it compares to the other relations, but alright (0:08:22) Kev: I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts. Anyways (0:08:26) Al: Yeah, I think that’s about it for me. (0:08:29) Al: Oh, no, I started on. (0:08:30) Al: So I’ve been watching through my mentions a couple of times. (0:08:33) Al: I’ve been watching through all the James Bond films. (0:08:35) Al: So I’m now on the Daniel Craig films. (0:08:37) Al: So on the home stretch nearly there. (0:08:40) Kev: Okay, okay, how is there any overall trends like they’re (0:08:44) Al: Hmm. So I don’t think there is like an upward or downward (0:08:46) Kev: Like better worse (0:08:51) Al: trend. They have like a good one followed by multiple terrible (0:08:53) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:08:55) Al: ones. I will say that one thing I’ve noticed watching them all (0:08:57) Kev: Yeah (0:09:01) Al: like we started in November. So we watched them all in the last (0:09:02) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:09:05) Al: nine months basically. One thing I’ve noticed is that they’re (0:09:06) Kev: Yeah (0:09:08) Al: all basically the same film. (0:09:10) Kev: Yeah (0:09:13) Kev: Now we’re talking oh (0:09:14) Al: So I mean, if you like that, then that’s good. I did get to the (0:09:17) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I mean (0:09:21) Al: point where we hit the, what’s his name? I’m so bad with the (0:09:29) Al: actor’s name sometimes. The Piers Brosnan ones. So we hit (0:09:32) Kev: » Yeah. (0:09:33) Al: 95 with GoldenEye. And I was like, oh, fantastic. We’re (0:09:34) Kev: » Yeah. (0:09:36) Al: finally, we’re finally getting out of the, you know, maybe we’ll (0:09:39) Al: get some bad baddie other than the USSR. And then I’m pretty (0:09:43) Kev: Yeah, yeah they do. (0:09:43) Al: pretty sure they go back in time. (0:09:44) Al: to make the USSR the baddie again. (0:09:49) Al: And then in the end, I would just watch Casino Royale and there’s a little bit (0:09:53) Al: where, where M goes, Oh, I wish we were, I wish we were back in the cold war. (0:09:57) Kev: Yeah, yeah, man, that’s that’s good stuff. Obviously, you and I is Nintendo, Pokemon, MCU fans, we can we can handle a whole lot of the same thing done over and over. But that’s that’s that’s fascinating. (0:09:59) Al: They really do miss that easy baddie. (0:10:05) Al: So yeah. (0:10:18) Al: - Yeah. (0:10:22) Al: I guess it’s different when you’re seeing the same thing (0:10:24) Al: every three years rather than every week. (0:10:27) Kev: Yeah, you know, that’s a good point. That’s a good point. But still, I mean, hey, you’re still trucking, you didn’t cause you to, to give up or die. So it’s because there’s at least something there. (0:10:38) Al: Yeah. Yeah, nearly there, nearly there, definitely. I’ve watched all the Daniel Craig ones as (0:10:44) Al: well, so I can’t officially say that I’ve watched every James Bond film. I just haven’t (0:10:48) Kev: Yeah (0:10:50) Al: watched these ones in a while, so. And Rona hasn’t seen the newest one, so. (0:10:51) Kev: Right, right (0:10:54) Kev: Okay, there you go. Hey congrats (0:10:57) Kev: Good stuff. Oh, I found the unite Pokemon. It’s sorry (0:11:04) Kev: Okay (0:11:05) Kev: We are getting Empoleon which sure starters always a safe choice. We are getting Vaporeon (0:11:13) Kev: Which means that the only Eevee evolutions we didn’t have were the original three. So we (0:11:18) Kev: Are now getting them that’s now confirming two other ones down the line (0:11:23) Kev: But most interestingly we are getting Delmise the (0:11:29) Kev: Living seaweed on an anchor. I’m excited about that. I like the freak pics. Delmise is a good freak pic (0:11:38) Al: Fun. Yeah. I look forward to seeing how Dalmay’s, you know, moves. (0:11:39) Kev: Yeah (0:11:43) Kev: Yeah, I’m just gonna flow it’s all just gonna flow (0:11:49) Kev: But yeah, oh well drags it drags itself (0:11:50) Al: You never know, should be something more interesting. (0:11:54) Al: Yeah, you just hear this scraping sound. (0:12:00) Kev: Oh, that’d be incredible. Oh my gosh (0:12:02) Al: Especially, I presume there’s no in-game chat, like audio chat in Unite. (0:12:08) Kev: Yeah, there is. There is a voice, yeah. (0:12:10) Al: Well there is, does it have, has it got, what’s it called, where you’re like, (0:12:15) Al: it changes depending on how close to the character you are. (0:12:18) Kev: Oh, proximity? No, it does not have proximity as far as I know. (0:12:19) Al: » Yeah. (0:12:20) Al: » That’d be brilliant. (0:12:21) Al: So if you could hear, like, the scraping come closer to you, that’d be brilliant. (0:12:22) Kev: The scraping. (0:12:28) Al: Feels like it’s something out of a horror film. (0:12:31) Kev: That’s incredible. Oh, I love dumb eyes. Oh, that’d be great. (0:12:38) Al: All right, should we get into some news? (0:12:41) Kev: Oh, you mean a lot of news. So much news. (0:12:43) Al: So, yeah, we have some games that have released (0:12:49) Al: that I completely missed when I was doing my catch-up (0:12:52) Al: of all the news in the break. (0:12:57) Al: So we’re just gonna quickly go through those. (0:12:59) Al: First up, we have Whimside, Whimside or Whimside. (0:13:03) Al: I don’t know how they want it to be said, (0:13:04) Al: but it’s one of those. (0:13:04) Kev: Yeah (0:13:06) Al: So that is out now. (0:13:08) Al: So a hoo to windside. (0:13:08) Kev: That’s (0:13:10) Kev: That’s the desk that’s your rusty like Pokemon collector (0:13:16) Al: Correct, yes. (0:13:17) Al: It’s a creature collector, the game that sits at the bottom of your screen, and fits easily (0:13:18) Kev: Which (0:13:22) Al: into your routine. (0:13:23) Kev: It looks kind of in-depth I don’t want to use it as a you know thing on the side (0:13:28) Kev: But I am kind of interested to just play get (0:13:32) Al: Yeah. It has 194 reviews so far, very positive 85%. So that’s good. (0:13:39) Kev: some look some of those were also just pokemon there was just a squirtle in in that trailer (0:13:46) Al: Well Squirtle is just a blue turtle, so come on. Next we have Herdling, they are also out now, (0:13:49) Kev: it is you’re not wrong yeah that’s true (0:13:56) Al: came out on the 21st of August, that one wasn’t one that I missed because it’s only just out. (0:13:56) Kev: they nope that just came out that’s (0:14:01) Al: So that is the you’re gathering a herd of mysterious creatures on a stirring and beautiful (0:14:07) Al: journey into the mountains. And this is published by Panic, they’re… (0:14:08) Kev: It’s Journey, the game Journey, but cows. (0:14:16) Al: the Untitled Goose Game people and also the… (0:14:22) Kev: Wow, that looks nothing like a criminal ghost game. A publisher? Okay, okay. (0:14:25) Al: No, well they’re just the publisher, they didn’t they didn’t write the game, but they’ve (0:14:33) Al: Panic are also the they’ve turned into a publisher as well. But they’re also the, and I’m just trying (0:14:41) Al: to remember the name of it. Nope, nope. (0:14:42) Kev: one game give me a hint is it stray oh oh my goodness wow these guys are heroes (0:14:47) Al: In our game the Playdate, the console, they also did the console. (0:14:54) Kev: hurdling exclusive to the play date or with the tool exclusive to the play date where you use the (0:15:00) Kev: crank to herd the cows uh oh okay yeah so these guys are (0:15:01) Al: Oh, they did fire watch as well. (0:15:12) Kev: gonna publish weird things that’s cool good for them i’m actually more interested in hurdling now (0:15:20) Kev: now that I have this I mean not that the publisher just the developer or whatever you know but uh (0:15:22) Al: Yeah, I (0:15:26) Al: Yeah, but I mean a publisher tells you something especially when they’ve only published like 10 games or something so (0:15:32) Al: It’s not like they’re throwing them out there. They’re taking anything that comes (0:15:36) Al: unlike some other games publishers (0:15:38) Kev: But (0:15:39) Al: But yeah, I mean it looks much more kind of fire watchy than it does anything else in terms of it’s because obviously fire watch is (0:15:44) Kev: Yeah (0:15:46) Al: much more (0:15:47) Al: straight and serious and (0:15:49) Kev: Yeah (0:15:50) Al: and they look. (0:15:52) Al: kind of meditative, almost. (0:15:53) Kev: Yeah (0:15:55) Kev: Yeah, it’s not yeah, that’s a good way of describing it right very Zen sort of thing (0:16:00) Kev: Just walking with some cows up a mountain (0:16:00) Al: Hmm. Big haticos. (0:16:05) Kev: The character even wears red like the journey (0:16:08) Kev: Character with the scar. It’s fine. Journey is a good game (0:16:14) Al: Next we have a ritual of Raven, which is also out now. (0:16:20) Al: So this is an isometric, story-based farming game. (0:16:26) Kev: cards, lots of cards, everywhere. I don’t understand the mechanics. Do you farm (0:16:34) Kev: with cards? It kind of looked like that. (0:16:38) Al: Yeah, I think so. I think you use the cards to create spells because you’re awake (0:16:43) Kev: okay right let’s see enchant constructs to help grow herbs and ingredients to help you complete (0:16:49) Kev: your book of shadows using the mystical deck of cards you’ll be able to enchant constructs to (0:16:54) Kev: plows plow sow seeds water and harvest them for you collect all 22 constructs and create thriving (0:17:01) Kev: herb garden um so yeah looks like you do use the cards to make stuff to farm that’s kind of (0:17:08) Al: Yeah. Yup, so that’s out now. Next, we have Abyss New Dawn. This is out in early access now. (0:17:17) Al: I think they had a delay. Are these the ones that delayed the game? They were meant to come (0:17:24) Al: out and then they were like, “Oh no, we’ve got an issue.” There we go. This is the one. Abyss (0:17:26) Kev: Did I lose the button, too? (0:17:31) Al: New Dawn release may be delayed by a few days. During Steam’s review process, our latest build (0:17:36) Al: was rejected due to a technical issue of three achievements. (0:17:38) Al: We’ve already fixed or submitted the build for approval. Steam usually takes three to (0:17:43) Al: five days for the review, so the release date may be delayed until August 25th. It was not. (0:17:48) Al: It ended up releasing Friday 22nd, so I don’t think it was delayed at all, but they thought it might be. (0:17:49) Kev: Yeah, um, so this, first of all, I hate. (0:18:02) Al: Oh yes, this is a warm village above a deadly abyss below. Will you farm in peace or dive in? (0:18:10) Kev: Okay, so first of all, I hate that name, like good heavens what an awful name, just like, it’s just so generic, it doesn’t tell you anything, um… (0:18:14) Al: Yes, also it feels like it’s the second in a series. This is the sequel to Abyss. It’s (0:18:24) Al: Abyss New Dawn. But I don’t think that’s the case. It is not the case. (0:18:25) Kev: yeah yeah okay this is gonna sound kind of weird this this game doesn’t look (0:18:34) Kev: like it was AI generated but it looks like the concept was generated concept (0:18:40) Kev: because it feels like it has so much going on like all these hallmarks you’ve (0:18:44) Kev: got Animal Crossing as characters you got farming you got fishing (0:18:49) Kev: customization and then the abyss the abyss is actually just dinosaurs it’s (0:18:54) Kev: It’s just a dinosaur world. (0:18:55) Kev: I don’t know. It looks well made. It’s a tough market out here. (0:19:04) Kev: That’s all. (0:19:04) Al: Yeah, I’m not seeing anything make me want to play this. (0:19:06) Kev: No, as much as I love dinosaurs, I’d rather play paleopine. (0:19:13) Kev: I would, I’m not trying to entertain them. (0:19:16) Al: Yeah, do you want to fight dinosaurs or do you want to tame them? That’s the question. (0:19:21) Kev: Also, so they have the Animal Crossing decorate your house because, of course. (0:19:25) Kev: The one question I don’t see, and I think this is a big problem a lot of games have, (0:19:30) Kev: can you actually use the furniture? Can you sit in the couch or lying in the bed? (0:19:36) Kev: Because that kills me when you can’t, and a lot of games do it. But anyways, yeah. (0:19:43) Kev: Bismuthon, that’s early access. I probably won’t play it. Bite Slime, that’s in the video. (0:19:55) Kev: Not fight slimes or anything, just fight slime singular. Or the general concept of slime, I guess. (0:20:05) Al: Yeah, yeah, I don’t I’m not excited to to play this let’s put it that way (0:20:11) Kev: I’m not either (0:20:14) Al: All right moving on to something I am excited to play (0:20:17) Kev: Okay, okay, I tried (0:20:18) Al: Starbirds (0:20:20) Kev: Okay, let’s see here. So I tried looking at this. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Remember this one now. Yeah. Yeah (0:20:21) Al: Starbirds (0:20:24) Al: So so starbirds have announced that the their early access is releasing on the 4th of September. So just to (0:20:33) Al: So, remind people. (0:20:35) Al: This is the game made by the people who did Dorph Romantic, and it is based on the YouTube channel Kurtzkazat in a nutshell. (0:20:49) Al: They do science-based videos, very interesting videos, all very meticulously researched and stuff. (0:20:56) Al: And this is in their art style, and it is an asteroid-based building and resource management game. (0:21:03) Kev: yeah that yeah it’s it’s um it’s a lot those are a lot of words but the good the game the game looks (0:21:08) Al: You know Dorph Romantic, right? You know the game. You don’t know Dorph romantic. You would (0:21:10) Kev: good I don’t want to like I don’t actually no no hold on (0:21:16) Al: you definitely recognize it if you clicked on it. Click through to the developer on Steam (0:21:20) Al: and click on Dorph romantic. It’s a really record. It’s kind of it’s got the like tiles (0:21:25) Al: like the hexagon tiles and it’s it’s like a building puzzle game. Yeah, it’s pretty (0:21:31) Kev: That is that is just settlers of Katon the game (0:21:37) Al: it, it, it, it pretty much. (0:21:38) Al: Um, but it’s single player, I think, um, it’s got 15,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews. (0:21:40) Kev: Sure sure (0:21:46) Al: It’s a very big game, they’re romantic. (0:21:47) Kev: Oh, I’m sure okay, is it good to have you played it? (0:21:53) Al: I haven’t played it, but I mean, there’s overwhelmingly positive on the Rivens team. (0:21:58) Kev: That’s true well (0:21:59) Al: So like people like it. (0:22:01) Kev: I guess so that’s true (0:22:02) Al: It’s not, I’m not, I’m not the biggest management game guy. (0:22:06) Kev: Yeah, that is true (0:22:08) Kev: So I’m also okay for starboard. So it is very heavy on the management. You have networks of cables and roads and flow (0:22:16) Kev: But I think the art style is very charming (0:22:19) Kev: very cartoony (0:22:20) Al: What I like about it as well is it’s very small scale. (0:22:24) Al: So I think one of my issues with management games is, (0:22:27) Al: here’s an infinite canvas, make something. (0:22:31) Kev: Yeah. Mine it. (0:22:31) Al: And you’re like, but maybe I don’t want to. (0:22:33) Al: And what this does is it goes, here’s a mini asteroid. (0:22:36) Al: Mine it. (0:22:37) Al: And then those all connect together eventually. (0:22:40) Al: And so it does create this bigger thing, (0:22:41) Al: but it’s like much smaller scale at the start. (0:22:44) Kev: Very piecewise. Yeah. Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Yeah, I think that’s cool too. Very (0:22:44) Al: I like, yeah. (0:22:51) Kev: Like discrete as in with the E at the end (0:22:56) Kev: Discrete units of (0:22:59) Kev: Resource management and then you connect them all together for a bigger network. I like it. That’s a fun idea (0:23:06) Kev: Also your birds I (0:23:08) Kev: Like I like to parrot a toucan. I don’t know what bird that is. Looks like it has a toucan beak but parrot (0:23:14) Kev: So I’m not sure I like that bird (0:23:16) Al: Alrighty, so that yeah, that’s 4th of September that comes out, Starbirds. (0:23:21) Kev: That’s sooner than it should be. Oh, where did all this go? Jeez (0:23:28) Al: Yeah, that’s two weeks away, less than two weeks away. (0:23:30) Al: That’s a week and a half away. (0:23:30) Al: That’ll be a week away when this game episode comes out. (0:23:32) Al: Alrighty, next we have Lens Island. (0:23:36) Al: They’ve released their 1.1 update. (0:23:38) Al: That is out now. (0:23:40) Al: That includes, it is the community feedback update. (0:23:42) Al: update. It brings a bunch of changes such as free (0:23:46) Al: camera orbiting. Okay, junk loading settings and performance (0:23:51) Al: boost, you can change how far away you can see things, which (0:23:54) Al: is really cool. If you’ve got like, a really good computer, (0:23:57) Al: you can see islands miles away in the distance. I really like (0:24:00) Al: that because yeah, that’s really nice. Increased performance of (0:24:05) Al: spending farms always good. A sorting button for storage items (0:24:09) Al: should have been there in 1.0. Edit constructions with new move (0:24:13) Al: button. The move button should have been 1.0. When Earth was (0:24:16) Al: this was one of the things I complained about in the in my (0:24:16) Kev: Yup. (0:24:18) Al: review of it. Why on earth? Why on earth did I have to delete (0:24:20) Kev: Yup. (0:24:21) Al: something and recreate it? So silly. You did at least when you (0:24:22) Kev: Yup. (0:24:25) Al: recycled something, you got all the materials back. So you (0:24:26) Kev: Right, right, right. (0:24:27) Al: didn’t waste anything. But it’s just still such an annoying (0:24:30) Kev: Yeah, I agree. Like, I feel like almost every game that has you, you know, building constructs or buildings or whatever should have this feature. (0:24:38) Kev: And a lot of them don’t. A lot of, I don’t know why. (0:24:42) Al: Yeah, another thing that should have been in there is the crop status UI, so if you hover over a crop, you can see whether it’s ready to harvest or not, which is good. (0:24:52) Kev: That seems important. (0:24:53) Al: Yeah, yeah, I found it later on. So after the podcast, I read that I found out that you can craft a scythe, and if you use the site that only gets rid of things that are harvestable, but before that, you just have to guess. (0:25:05) Kev: Oh, that’s good. That’s good. Good good (0:25:12) Al: So you can create a new companion, the black bear, so you can get an animal black bear companion. (0:25:18) Kev: Now this I like just because I like bears in general good good for you. He added a bear (0:25:24) Al: Yeah, yeah, I think I’m probably gonna stick with my dog. I like my dog, but (0:25:26) Kev: Can you pet the bear? (0:25:30) Kev: Yeah (0:25:31) Al: There’s tempting (0:25:35) Kev: I’m tempted. I don’t play this game. But if I did I’d get a bear (0:25:39) Al: Haha, I (0:25:42) Al: Haven’t played it for a few weeks (0:25:43) Al: But I will hopefully get back into it at some point the problem is this is the one that I have to play on my (0:25:48) Al: computer with my mouse and keyboard, so you know and (0:25:53) Al: Next we have Disney Dream. (0:25:54) Al: I’m just going to say a new episode. (0:25:56) Kev: What property is it today or this time? (0:26:01) Al: This is the emotional rescue update. (0:26:04) Al: Let’s see. (0:26:06) Al: Joy and sadness. (0:26:08) Al: You’ve got, so there we go. (0:26:10) Al: We’ve got inside out, that’s what it’s called. (0:26:11) Kev: Inside out as in joy and sadness TM, but the capital letters (0:26:19) Kev: That (0:26:21) Kev: How should I put this like this is a (0:26:25) Kev: complete nonsensical like (0:26:28) Kev: There’s no logic in this world because it’s just whatever cartoons (0:26:33) Kev: but it (0:26:34) Kev: But despite that, I don’t know it feels weird that you can hang out with you know (0:26:40) Kev: and psychological constructs. (0:26:41) Kev: You win. You know, the rest of the guys are actual lions or dogs or people. (0:26:48) Kev: But, whatever. I liked Inside Out. I didn’t see Inside Out, too. (0:26:53) Kev: Inside Out, first one, was a good movie. (0:26:55) Al: I enjoy, I think Inside Out 2 was just as good if not better than Inside Out 1. (0:27:00) Kev: Ooh! Ooh! That’s interesting. I’ll have to check that out. (0:27:03) Al: It’s very good. I think that so many sequels, I understand why people get frustrated with them, (0:27:09) Al: but I think Inside Out was not, I mean, whether it was a cash grab or not, I don’t care, right? (0:27:15) Al: Like it doesn’t feel like a cash grab, it feels like a continuation of the story in good and better (0:27:15) Kev: Yeah (0:27:20) Kev: Sure, I mean (0:27:22) Al: ways, right? Like it’s, it takes the concept. (0:27:23) Kev: Yeah (0:27:25) Al: And it goes further with it in a way that can completely break you. (0:27:27) Kev: Yeah (0:27:30) Kev: Sure sure, I mean, yeah, okay, it’s not (0:27:34) Kev: It’s difficult but being a cash grab and being an excellent sequel are not mutually exclusive (0:27:40) Al: Exactly. (0:27:41) Kev: Um, just very, very rare, but, but it is, it, it’s theoretically. (0:27:45) Kev: Possible. So sure. Um, okay. I, I have one question from the sequel. (0:27:50) Kev: Okay. So you remember in the first movie, you, sometimes you see the, (0:27:55) Kev: the minds of other people, the parents or whatever, (0:27:57) Kev: and they have the five emotions. (0:27:58) Al: Yes. No. Explain why they weren’t there with the main character who I can’t remember the (0:27:59) Kev: Do they explain why all these other emotions weren’t there? No. (0:28:05) Kev: Darn it. Darn it. (0:28:11) Al: name of, but not why the new ones wouldn’t be in Riley, that’s the name, yeah, but why (0:28:13) Kev: Riley. (0:28:16) Kev: Yeah. Darn it. That’s fine. That’s fine. Yeah. I mean, I mean, I mean, (0:28:16) Al: they wouldn’t be in the other ones. No, they don’t explain that. No, they do explain why (0:28:21) Kev: it makes sense that you get new emotions as you get older. (0:28:23) Al: why they’re not in Riley. (0:28:25) Kev: You get, you know, more nuanced. It’s totally makes sense. (0:28:28) Al: Yeah, the metaphors are both fun and painful. (0:28:35) Kev: Now you say, is it painful? Cause it’s too real. (0:28:38) Kev: Is that what it is? Oh, yeah. (0:28:42) Kev: Oh, yeah. (0:28:42) Al: a little bit yeah you’re a big anxiety boy aren’t you yeah yeah then then then yeah (0:28:45) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, yeah. (0:28:52) Al: watch it but but watch it on an emotionally stable day (0:28:52) Kev: Oh, oh, so it can be so that was so the rest of your day can be emotionally unstable. (0:28:58) Al: or you know semi-emotionally stable (0:29:08) Al: no I think I think it’s one of those ones where it will break you but in a healing way (0:29:12) Kev: Sure, sure. (0:29:13) Al: you know like therapy you know you go into therapy and sometimes you come out crying (0:29:14) Kev: Yeah, no, I get that. (0:29:16) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:29:18) Al: but also you feel better in some ways as well it’s kind of like that (0:29:22) Kev: Yeah, I get that. (0:29:22) Kev: Yeah, no, I know what you mean. (0:29:24) Kev: I mean, like, like the first one, the shocker. (0:29:26) Al: not that watching watching films obviously important to note watching films is not a (0:29:30) Al: suitable alternative to therapy do therapy please and thank you (0:29:34) Kev: Yeah, that’s that’s a good thing to do that (0:29:36) Al: if you can if you can afford it if you can’t talk to your friends (0:29:38) Kev: You go go or (0:29:42) Kev: Okay, yeah, here’s my my PSA helpful hint for the day (0:29:46) Kev: I always always recommend because therapy can be very expensive, right? (0:29:52) Kev: Especially on the states where we have to deal with you know medical insurance and yada yada (0:29:57) Kev: If you find that to be a challenge go seek out your nearest University (0:30:02) Kev: They may have a clinic with students. (0:30:04) Kev: They may have a clinic with students in training to be full psychologist/counsellors, which is usually generally affordable. (0:30:06) Al: Hmm. (0:30:10) Kev: Or they can make it affordable. (0:30:13) Kev: And it’s pretty okay because they still are supervised by actual, you know, fully certified therapists and whatnot. (0:30:20) Kev: So, yeah, go look at your local university. (0:30:24) Kev: Anyway, so that’s Disney Dreamlight Valley! (0:30:30) Al: - Yes, that’s Disney Dreamland Valley, go to therapy. (0:30:37) Al: Next, we have Overthrown, (0:30:39) Al: they have released a coastal update. (0:30:42) Kev: Okay. (0:30:42) Al: So that includes some coastal related things. (0:30:45) Kev: Okay, so I saw that and my first question was what is overthrown? I did not remember this game at all. (0:30:50) Al: This is the one where you can like pick up the sawmill (0:30:54) Al: and throw it at trees and it’ll turn the trees (0:30:56) Al: into planks of wood, stuff like that. (0:30:58) Kev: Yeah, which is (0:30:59) Al: It’s like the. (0:31:02) Kev: The very it’s very cool concept to be honest I saw it (0:31:07) Al: and you can also in their ritual run. (0:31:08) Kev: Yeah, you are not running across water and everything (0:31:13) Kev: And it’s multiple. It’s it’s chaotic and and boy that that main character (0:31:18) Kev: They’re the default design or whatever that is a breath of the wild outfit. That is blue link blue (0:31:24) Al: Yeah, fair. (0:31:27) Kev: But but it’s fine (0:31:28) Kev: What a wild goofy game (0:31:30) Kev: What a novel idea to pick up the sawmill and chop down the whole forest by running with it (0:31:37) Kev: We’re throwing buildings at the invaders that’s good stuff. I like that. That’s fun (0:31:43) Kev: Coastal I like coastal stuff you can throw pirate ship now (0:31:46) Al: All right, next we have Starsand Island have released a trailer for the game. (0:31:54) Al: Have you watched it yet, Kevin? (0:31:56) Kev: let me see which one is this no this is not the hold on there’s a lot of games (0:32:03) Kev: trying to merge one this isn’t the allegory allegory game (0:32:08) Kev: yeah no we’ll get to that later oh gosh I missed this one I was going through (0:32:15) Kev: the doc and it’s this one actually let me see here live reaction okay those are (0:32:20) Kev: pretty graphics hate the name of course goes without saying oh that’s anime that (0:32:25) Kev: That is some anime. (0:32:27) Kev: Uhm, okay, a lot of customization, farming, cat, ooh, is that an arcade? Actual arcade? (0:32:34) Kev: Why is it always snake? They always be, “Oh, you’re right, on a deer there’s some pandas, and a bamboo raft, so we can go build your aquarium.” (0:32:45) Kev: Oh, I kind of remember, yeah, I remember this, build the house, 3D spirit favor house, yeah, yeah, yeah, water slide into the ocean. (0:32:53) Kev: There’s a lot of stuff. (0:32:56) Kev: Yeah, build your 3D Animal Crossing Spiritfare pool party house. (0:33:03) Kev: Okay, that’s… (0:33:05) Al: I feel like this game is either going to be another Stardew Valley like a big really popular (0:33:12) Al: really good farming game or it’s Sugardew Island again and I can’t tell which like I (0:33:14) Kev: Yeah, there is a metal ground, you don’t think so? I kind of, I mean, I mean, you have reason (0:33:19) Al: don’t think there’s going to be a middle here I don’t know for this game like there are (0:33:25) Al: many games in the middle ground I don’t think this one can be in the middle ground it’s (0:33:29) Al: one or the other like it might be that this game is entirely fake I’m still not convinced (0:33:37) Kev: to believe that there’s a guy playing guitar with ostriches and sheep, there’s backup dancers. (0:33:43) Kev: That’s… (0:33:46) Kev: I like that. I don’t know if it’s real. (0:33:48) Al: you can get a boat with a water slide (0:33:48) Kev: But… (0:33:50) Kev: Into the ocean. (0:33:53) Al: for some reason. I’m so confused about the boat. Where’s the boat? (0:33:54) Kev: Yeah. (0:33:59) Al: Like, am I riding the boat somewhere? Because I can customize the boat, (0:34:03) Kev: Yeah, it makes you think like it’s your main base, but they show you a room. Yeah, you (0:34:03) Al: right? But it’s not. You’ve got a farm. (0:34:10) Al: So what is this? Why is this boat? Is it from traveling places or is it just a (0:34:13) Al: second home? Why was I going down the slide in (0:34:15) Kev: Probably (0:34:17) Al: might feel soon. (0:34:19) Al: So many questions. (0:34:20) Kev: There’s a lot of questions what why are you writing a legendary Pokemon not the ostrich the deer one (0:34:26) Al: And an ostrich. (0:34:29) Al: Yeah, I know I saw the deal, but the ostrich definitely looks (0:34:32) Al: fine. I would ride an ostrich. That sounds fun. (0:34:33) Kev: I (0:34:34) Al: Also, there’s a baby chick on the ostriches head for some reason. (0:34:37) Kev: It does something, you know us oh, yeah, there are there is chick. Oh, I think you customize the ostrich (0:34:44) Kev: I see one the flower too. I don’t know (0:34:46) Al: There’s a snake minigame where instead of a snake, you’re a capybara. (0:34:50) Kev: Which is I don’t like that concept I (0:34:54) Kev: Don’t like yeah, no or rather the the cap of the air gets longer. No, I don’t get that (0:34:54) Al: Of a long capybara. (0:35:03) Al: Oh, you’re fine with a long capybara just as long as it stays the same length. (0:35:04) Kev: You (0:35:06) Kev: Yes, I don’t I don’t like yes, it’s the increase here that’s making me uncomfortable but (0:35:06) Al: Is that what you’re saying? (0:35:13) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:35:15) Kev: It’s a wild game. I (0:35:18) Kev: Don’t know (0:35:20) Kev: it looks real enough, but (0:35:24) Kev: You can put a carousel in the middle of your boat (0:35:28) Kev: It’s wild. I (0:35:30) Kev: I don’t know what what is the point of all I like. (0:35:33) Kev: What is the impetus here? Why do you write ostriches? I don’t get it. (0:35:37) Al: You get round fast, obviously. Come on. (0:35:39) Kev: Yeah, you know, apparently writing ostriches is incredibly dangerous in real life. (0:35:45) Al: Well yeah, obviously. They’re terrifying birds. (0:35:46) Kev: Yeah, yeah, but like, yeah, they are. (0:35:52) Kev: I like them, though. Anyways, I mean, it it has caught my attention (0:35:57) Kev: just because it’s it’s I don’t know what to make of it. (0:36:03) Kev: It hasn’t it hasn’t put me off. (0:36:06) Kev: So good for you, Star Santa, even with the name, you’ve you’ve caught my attention (0:36:11) Kev: to a degree, Star Santa Island. (0:36:13) Al: I also worry that there might just be too much in this game, that’s always a problem (0:36:17) Al: with these games. (0:36:18) Kev: You know, it feels like that’s kind of a recurring theme these days. (0:36:23) Kev: Like they’re just do stardew, but bigger or add more and bloat and bloat and oh, (0:36:34) Al: Well, we’ll see. We will keep you posted on this game. (0:36:38) Kev: We’re obligated to. (0:36:42) Al: Next, we have Harvest Moon Home Sweet Home Special Edition. (0:36:47) Al: So this is the console version of this game for Switch and PS5. (0:36:53) Al: We now have a price. It is $40 and it’s up for pre-order now coming out Q4. (0:37:00) Kev: It’s… we all know what it is. It’s the harvest moon. The Natsume… (0:37:10) Kev: Well, I’m not gonna get it, I’ll be honest. (0:37:13) Al: That’s fair. I will say, I still think this is actively a good game. My big question is, (0:37:22) Al: is there going to be an update coming to the mobile version that gives us the stuff that (0:37:26) Kev: Hmm (0:37:28) Al: this version has, like the hover bike and stuff like that? (0:37:31) Kev: I I wouldn’t rule it out. Not something has been surprising us lately. So maybe actually it’s more than 0% chance (0:37:34) Al: Yep, I never expected an update for this game. (0:37:43) Al: On the console to give us controller support, for example, never expected that and we got (0:37:48) Al: it. So maybe, maybe, but it’s weird that they’ve not done anything about it, like told us anything (0:37:55) Al: about it yet. (0:37:58) Kev: Well, it’s better than scong than in the communication. (0:38:02) Al: Next we have in what is both surprising and not surprising crossovers, like was this on (0:38:09) Kev: I (0:38:12) Al: your bingo guard of crossovers? (0:38:13) Kev: Well, no because (0:38:14) Al: No, but if you said, if you told me this was going to happen, I would say, okay, sure, (0:38:19) Al: I can see that. (0:38:21) Al: And that is Infinity Nicki cross Stardew Valley. (0:38:21) Kev: I. Okay, so to begin with, I was not familiar with Infinity Nicky. So that was my first (0:38:31) Kev: response. What is Infinity Nicky? I watched a I watched the trailer. I watched a gameplay (0:38:32) Al: This is the dressing up game, isn’t it? (0:38:39) Kev: trailer. I still don’t understand what this game is. Yeah, but it’s also gotcha. (0:38:42) Al: I’m pretty sure this is the, uh, yes, it’s the dress up game. (0:38:47) Al: So the whole point it’s, yes, it’s a gacha great dressing up game. (0:38:51) Al: So the collaboration is in Infinity Nikki. (0:38:54) Kev: very anime. Yeah. (0:38:57) Al: It’s not in Stardew Valley. (0:38:59) Al: Um, but I don’t think we know for certain, I’ve not, I didn’t notice (0:39:03) Al: anything in the trailer that gave us an indication as to what it was, but (0:39:05) Al: I’m guessing it’s Stardew inspired outfits in Infinity. (0:39:10) Kev: I thought that 3D… still pixelated, but 3D Junimo was in the game. (0:39:17) Al: Yeah, I think that’s just, this is the trailer. I don’t think that actually is going to… (0:39:20) Kev: Are you sure? Mmm… (0:39:23) Kev: I don’t know. I kind of feel like it is. It felt very… (0:39:26) Kev: That was a very detailed model for just a trailer, in my opinion. (0:39:31) Kev: There’s creatures for, to some extent, in this game. I don’t know what they do. (0:39:36) Kev: But… yeah, I don’t know. (0:39:40) Kev: But regardless, like… (0:39:44) Kev: It’s… (0:39:45) Kev: First of all, it’s… (0:39:47) Kev: It’s so many other Stardew crossovers. (0:39:49) Kev: Like, it’s, you know, 2D pixelated, indie developer, whatever, right? (0:39:54) Kev: Like, it’s kind of on the same realm as Stardew. (0:39:58) Kev: Uh, Infinity Nicky is a very high-fidelity, 3D anime, mohoyo-looking game. (0:40:09) Kev: And so it’s wild to see. (0:40:10) Kev: We started getting upgraded, like just visually, you know, up to that level. (0:40:17) Al: Oh, here’s interesting. So, apparently, Infiniti Nikkei is getting updated to have (0:40:23) Al: homes. Apparently, he didn’t have homes before. And farming. (0:40:27) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s correct. I do I did see that (0:40:32) Al: So, that’s interesting. (0:40:34) Kev: And well, there’s your there’s your Avenue (0:40:36) Kev: What what a get for this infinity Nikki go for the big one and I’ll start it to introduce your new home (0:40:44) Kev: Farming update with it (0:40:47) Kev: Yeah, this this whole thing is wild apparently so the internet thought so too (0:40:52) Al: Yes, so just to clarify, I think this article is mostly clickbait, but I wanted to just (0:40:58) Kev: Yeah, I agree (0:41:00) Al: have a quick chat about it. So this is a random article on a random site. Stardew Valley creator (0:41:05) Al: defends free Infinity Nikki crossover after backlash as he genuinely thought the players (0:41:11) Al: would like it. So I don’t think he’s actually responding to complaints about the fact that (0:41:17) Al: this exists. The quote comes from a tweet where he says there have (0:41:22) Al: been a few collaborations between Stardew Valley and other games over the years. To (0:41:27) Al: be clear, I never received any money from these collabs. I’ve only done them because (0:41:31) Al: I was a fan of the other games or because I genuinely thought the players would like (0:41:34) Al: it. That is not like the headline definitely makes it sound like he’s specifically talking (0:41:40) Al: about this collab. And he and he’s like making it makes it sound like it’s going, Oh, I’m (0:41:44) Al: really sad. People don’t like it. I genuinely thought the players would like it. Like that (0:41:48) Al: doesn’t seem to be the case. And if you look in the YouTube comments for this video, like (0:41:52) Al: it is mostly positive and or mostly just like shock in general, right? (0:41:56) Kev: Uh (0:41:58) Kev: I I don’t know because the (0:42:01) Kev: concern they tweeted is uh (0:42:03) Kev: Just a couple days ago, um right around the time of the trailer dropping (0:42:08) Kev: So I think he might be obviously he’s getting (0:42:11) Kev: He has a lot of people that follow him and send him comments and stuff. So (0:42:16) Kev: he I suspect there was a (0:42:19) Kev: Maybe not a large but you know how these things are a vocal minority of people (0:42:24) Kev: Who complained about this because (0:42:26) Kev: I can see the logic right concerned a star do we that’s a success right he’s (0:42:32) Kev: already getting success from stardew and now he’s collabing with the gotcha game (0:42:37) Kev: which is probably making insane boatloads of money because gotcha games (0:42:41) Kev: that’s what they do so oh look at that and see now he’s collaborating with big (0:42:42) Al: Yeah. Yeah, so well, so yeah, so my I suspect it was a small number of people who are like, oh, (0:42:54) Al: I can’t believe he’s doing this, he must just be getting a bunch of money. And so he’s like, (0:42:57) Al: no, no, I’m not getting money. And that’s all he really cared about doing, right? That’s because (0:43:00) Kev: Yeah, sure, sure, sure. (0:43:01) Al: that’s really all he said is, I don’t get money from the collabs, play it or don’t, I don’t care. (0:43:02) Kev: Yeah. (0:43:06) Kev: Yeah, pretty much. (0:43:06) Al: Right? Like, I think these are fun. And that’s basically what he’s saying, which is a fair thing (0:43:11) Al: to… to point out. I just… (0:43:12) Al: feel like this then article just takes it as like this stupid over the top forced to apologize (0:43:20) Al: because it you know it’s just like oh my word gonna know and then of course I’m playing into (0:43:20) Kev: yeah yep and then and then QS I think the 3d dream was part of it I’m still (0:43:24) Al: that by talking about it. I’m still not sure what this collab actually is as well but it (0:43:34) Kev: I’m standing by that (0:43:35) Al: we’ll see. Well I think it’ll just be inspired designs but we will see. (0:43:40) Kev: yeah I don’t know how should I put this it’s wild to me that started concerned (0:43:48) Kev: I knew what this game was from what I’ve seen. (0:43:50) Kev: in other interviews he seems a little out of touch with the gamesphere but here we are (0:43:54) Al: Yeah, maybe. All right, to finish off the news, we have two new games to talk about, (0:44:03) Al: and I don’t know why, but this is apparently horror time. One of them is called We Harvest (0:44:10) Al: Shadows, a single-player first-person farming horror allegory, (0:44:14) Al: become a recluse, build up your farm, and survive the lonely nights. (0:44:18) Kev: Yeah, this is what I said was the allegory game, um, yeah, um, this is, this is just straight (0:44:21) Al: All right. Okay. There we go. (0:44:26) Kev: horror. (0:44:27) Kev: There is no cozy here. (0:44:29) Kev: Um, it’s full 3D, first person, spooky lighting, you know, uh, run down shack you’re living (0:44:38) Kev: in. (0:44:39) Kev: You are leading a lamb to a sacrifice, it looks like, I don’t like that. (0:44:45) Kev: Um, okay. (0:44:48) Kev: I hate about, um, not just games, but like, I hate when anything describes itself as an (0:44:56) Kev: allegory or allegory, excuse me, um, uh, because like, that kind of defeats the point. (0:44:58) Al: Yeah. (0:45:04) Kev: You know, you should be able to figure it out. (0:45:04) Al: Yeah. Also, an allegory to what, right? Like, you can’t just say that. (0:45:06) Kev: And the worst part, exactly, right? (0:45:09) Kev: Exactly. (0:45:10) Kev: If you’re gonna tell me, okay, what is it for? (0:45:13) Kev: Tell me. (0:45:14) Kev: Right? (0:45:15) Kev: If you’re going to be, you know, maybe you’re inspired off. (0:45:18) Kev: Something or give me a general idea. (0:45:20) Kev: I guess I can get it, but, but you’re just okay. (0:45:25) Kev: Why were you telling me you’re, you mean something? (0:45:28) Kev: That’s like, this game has thoughts. (0:45:31) Kev: This game has emotions. (0:45:32) Kev: Okay, good for you. (0:45:34) Kev: I would hope your game does, but yeah, it’s very bizarre. (0:45:37) Al: Yeah, what am I meant to do with this information? Right? Bizarre. (0:45:44) Al: Oh my word, those creatures are horrifying. Sorry, (0:45:44) Kev: But anyways, the game itself… (0:45:46) Al: I was just watching the end of the trailer and just got jump scared from that horrible creature. (0:45:48) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that said, I was about to say that exactly, the it is very just straight horror, those are Resident Evil-esque looking creatures at the end of that trailer. (0:46:00) Kev: Um, and you got a shotgun, and I don’t know what you’re supposed to survive, and you’re still farming somehow, apparently. (0:46:08) Kev: Um, yeah, I’m generally not a big horror, like straight horror. (0:46:10) Al: Obviously. I mean, why not? (0:46:18) Kev: Um, at least game-wise, um, so I don’t know if I’ll be checking that out, but it’s a little more refreshing than, than, you know, what is this, Star Sand Island baby? (0:46:31) Kev: A bit, it’s New Dawns, but definitely more exciting than that. (0:46:32) Al: And the other one, which I’m not 100% sure whether we have or haven’t talked about this (0:46:41) Al: one, because like some things are ringing bells. (0:46:42) Kev: We have I or I am like positive or do we talk about just on discords? (0:46:44) Al: We have talked about this, right? (0:46:48) Al: It’s not, it’s, this is the thing I can tell, it’s, it’s on, it’s not, it wasn’t on my list (0:46:49) Kev: I can’t remember because it was on a direct (0:46:54) Al: of games that are upcoming. (0:46:56) Al: So I either didn’t talk about it or I forgot to put on the list, but anyway, we’re talking (0:47:02) Al: about it. (0:47:03) Al: That’s never a way. (0:47:04) Al: The interesting thing about this one is the pixel artist is the one who did Celeste. (0:47:09) Al: So that’s exciting. (0:47:10) Kev: - Yeah, so that’s good work already. (0:47:12) Al: After quitting her dead end job, Fiona starts over on a farm and becomes the immortal hero (0:47:17) Al: of a dead God. (0:47:18) Al: Make friends, fight through horrors and pay your debt in this nightmarish life sim RPG. (0:47:24) Al: This is giving Cult of the Lamb. (0:47:26) Kev: yep it’s it’s still stardew-esque because you have a town and you’re interacting with characters and (0:47:33) Kev: possibly romancing but genuine horror there are some

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Marine veteran Ralph Sarabia takes you inside the chaos of Iraq...convoys hit by IEDs, RPGs ripping overhead, close-quarters ambushes, and the split-second choices that decide who makes it home. In todays Urban Valor Podcast episode, he opens up about survivor's guilt, hypervigilance, and rebuilding life after deployment with faith, family, and boxing. This is a raw, unfiltered account of Marine combat and the fight to heal.

Get in touch with us!The dark minions may have tried to sabotage our first episode, but we're back with a deep dive into the fascinating world of Dark Conspiracy, GDW's dystopian monster-hunting RPG from 1991.Dark Conspiracy occupies a unique place in roleplaying history – a game that bridges old-school wargaming crunch with forward-thinking character development systems. We explore how this game, with its eerily prescient setting of corporate overreach and societal collapse, created some of the most detailed and mismatched parties in gaming. Where else could you play a heavily-armed scooby gang featuring a Navy SEAL, a paramedic, and a homeless guy with sunglasses?The game's mechanical complexity is both its blessing and curse. We marvel at the obsessive detail – magazine tracking sheets for individual bullets, eight pages of space travel rules in a monster-hunting game, and vehicle stats for everything from military hardware to Winnebagos. Yet beneath this crunch lies innovative systems for character development, NPC generation, and adventure design that were ahead of their time.We also connect Dark Conspiracy to GDW's broader legacy, from Traveller to Twilight 2000, examining how these games influenced an entire generation of players. Our discussion ranges from character optimization (cyborg escapees with strength 18, anyone?) to the evolution of game design, from pure simulation to narrative focus.Whether you're a longtime fan of GDW games or simply curious about this fascinating chapter in RPG history, join us for this exploration of a game that tried to have rules for everything – including how many tons of cargo your spacecraft could deliver to the moon.What was your experience with Dark Conspiracy or other GDW games? Did you track every bullet, or handwave the crunch in favor of the story? Let us know at roll.to.save.pod@gmail.com or find us on Instagram!Contact us at:EMAIL: roll.to.save.pod@gmail.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rolltosavepodWEBSITE: https://rolltosave.blogHOSTS: Iain Wilson, Steve McGarrity, Jason DowneyBACKGROUND MUSIC: David Renada (Find him at: davidrendamusic@gmail.com or on his web page).TITLE, BREAK & CLOSEOUT MUSIC: Xylo-Ziko (Find them on their web page).

Lords: * Abby * https://www.thespaceuk.com/shows/2025/abby-denton-my-favorite-loser * Sid * https://linktr.ee/beamsplashx Topics: * Reading about type 1 diabetes * Saying vegetables instead of cussin' * https://jp.itch.io/mr-friendly * Winston punched his tooth out * If I Ran the Circus (excerpt) * With the power of portable PS2 emulation, I can find out how many types of games I don't like anymore Microtopics: * My Favorite Loser. * Mistakes we always keep in the show because it's more fun that way. * How to plagiarize video using Da Vinci Resolve. * A tool that automatically turns any Youtube video into a series of screenshots with captions. * Your mom threatening to sell your copy of Sonic the Hedgehog when it's explicitly labeled "not for resale" * Explaining to your mom that they're not video games, they're computer games, and she explains that video is from the Latin for "to see" * Mom paying proper deference to your clever sass before grounding you. * They're called RPGs, Mother! * Reading just enough about diabetes to be unhelpful. * Reading the diabetes owners manual. * Your $200/month Glucagon habit. * The Quick Start Guide to Diabetes, which explains that ideally you'd do such and such for your diabetic child but you probably don't have health insurance so, uh, good luck! * WiFi 7 upgrading you to gay. * Recreational glucose monitors. * The new glucose tablets coming in metric and confusing everybody. * That time Solid Snake went hypoglycemic while being tortured and bit down on his fake tooth to release the glucose capsule. * We put sugar gel in you, Solid Snake! It's going to make you slightly loopy! * An accountant who likes jogging. * Nobody knows why women have a higher incidence of eating disorders. If only we could ask them * They made a cure to diabetes 30 years ago, but you have to become the President of the United States to get it. * If Diabetes is so good, why haven't they made a Diabetes 2? * The Quick Start Guide to Diabetes explaining that people with diabetes can talk over you in a funny voice and you're not allowed to do anything about it. * Fiddling with a bloodletting device in an antique store and accidentally letting nearly all of your blood. * Phlegmletters. * What part of the body hurts least to prick with a needle. (The balls.) (Of your feet.) * Code switching halfway through explaining how you like to cuss. * How to swear at someone using vegetables. * What a load of parsnips! * Brussels Sprouts patch notes. * Brussels Sprouts: Belgium's Great Shame. * Winnipeg Manitoba sprouts. * Walking up to a stranger on the street and saying "Hey! It's a load of parsnips!" when they don't even know how you feel about parsnips. * Veggie Tales: Christ Died for our Parsnips. * Finding hilarious jokes in the text but your Bible studies group doesn't think they're very funny at all. * Refusing to apologize about a joke because someone somewhere is going to get the joke. * Why they still play old cartoons when they have Dragon Ball Z now. * Trying to find the 90s show about a kid trapped in a sitcom neighborhood that a talking dog told Abby about. * A video game where instead of having to shoot people, you talk to people. * Mr. Friendly. * Running errands for the demons. * Demon acceptance. * Can you believe Satan? What will they come up with next? * Lucifer Twocifer: Bringer of the Deuce. * Embarking on a multi-year project to have the coolest most clever minced oaths because you refuse to have basic minced oaths. * Whether it's racist to call a safecracker a Yegg. * The funniest joke you heard when you were eight. * The hobo with excellent glycemic index who lives in your shed. * Trying cat insulin and promising to report back if you die. * Hyperdontia. * Accidentally swallowing a tooth and growing a tooth tree in your tummy. * Explaining to your kid who just swallowed a tooth that it's going to bite him on the butt on the way out. * Inventing an increasingly elaborate series of fairies that cover everything that can happen to your child's teeth * What kind of degree you need to become a tooth fairy. * Going to the dentist to do a bunch of drugs and get punched in the face. * The tooth fairy talking about switching careers. * Paying for PDFs to print and put under your child's pillow when they lose a tooth. * Trying to pay a mortgage on a tooth fairy's salary nowadays. * What you're going to make Mr. Sneelock do. * A hoodwink who can't wink good. * If only we could talk to the LAPD. * Looking up the IPA pronunciation of Truffula Trees. * Anticipating the day you'll finally get to say "what it is" * Reading The Lorax in a bad David Lynch impression. * Over Forty Years of Trusted Quality at Nature's Bounty. * Seeing yourself on video and realizing you've been on the autism spectrum the whole time. * Knowing your friend only has one joke and telling a whole shaggy dog story to set up the one joke, as a gift. * The zoomers that they have nowadays. * Hello, this is my Asian man voice. * Going around the circle and everybody doing their best Asian man voice, finishing with the guy you want cancelled the most. * Spending $150 trying to connect your PlayStation 2 to a modern television. * Exhorting people to read the jokes in your pinned tweets. * Importing PS3 games – or not importing them, which is cheaper. * All the things you could've done instead of shooting Shinzo Abe. * Playing Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven and trying to change the control scene to be more like Sekiro, even though you hated Sekiro. * Freaking out because you didn't have everything figured out by the time you're 24. * Playing Bumpy Trot with your weeb girlfriend.

Get in touch with us!PRODUCTION NOTE - INCIDENT REPORT #DC-001Subject: Anomalous Audio Interference During Initial RecordingClassification: Empathic Incursion (Suspected)Status: RESOLVEDFellow Minion Hunters,We regret to inform you that our initial release of this episode experienced what can only be described as supernatural audio interference. During the original recording session, our carefully balanced audio levels were mysteriously altered, causing the background music to surge in volume and completely drown out the primary discussion track.Our technical analysis revealed no equipment malfunctions, no human error, and no logical explanation for the phenomenon. The audio signatures show patterns consistent with Class-3 empathic interference, specifically targeting frequencies in the vocal range while amplifying ambient sound elements.Possible explanations include:•Dark Minions attempting to suppress information about their 1991 operational plans•Residual dimensional energy from discussing proto-dimensional travel rules•The ghost of Lester W. Smith protecting his space combat mechanics from ridicule•Standard equipment failure (least likely explanation)After consulting with our empathic technical specialist and performing the appropriate protective rituals, we have successfully remastered this episode. The dark forces have been contained, the audio has been properly balanced, and you can now hear our full discussion of Game Designers' Workshop's prescient masterpiece of dystopian horror.We apologize for any inconvenience caused by these otherworldly interruptions. As any Dark Conspiracy veteran knows, the conspiracy never sleeps—and apparently, it really doesn't want you to hear us making fun of the space travel rules.Stay vigilant. Trust no one. Check your audio levels.Contact us at:EMAIL: roll.to.save.pod@gmail.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rolltosavepodWEBSITE: https://rolltosave.blogHOSTS: Iain Wilson, Steve McGarrity, Jason DowneyBACKGROUND MUSIC: David Renada (Find him at: davidrendamusic@gmail.com or on his web page).TITLE, BREAK & CLOSEOUT MUSIC: Xylo-Ziko (Find them on their web page).

In which I discover that there is another "once-a-day-in-August" challenge, and it relates to my favourite hobby, RPGs. Continue reading →

Mr. Four gets into a tea-time discussion with the local oldies and Drip and Jella get in trouble with Mayor Madrigal. What's in the bottles, guy?!

Get in touch with us!What happens when a beloved classic gets reimagined three decades later? That's the question at the heart of my deep dive into Enemy in Shadows, Cubicle 7's director's cut of the legendary Enemy Within campaign for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.As someone who first attempted to run this campaign as a 12-year-old back in 1988, this review comes from a place of both nostalgia and critical analysis. The original Shadows Over Bugenhaven was brilliant but chaotically organized – I spent half my time frantically flipping through pages, hunting for crucial information while my players waited. This new edition promises to maintain the brilliance while fixing those organizational nightmares.The production values are gorgeous, with artwork that perfectly captures the grim darkness of the Warhammer world. The adventure structure has been significantly improved, and the story is refreshingly honest and properly Warhammer.However, the book isn't without flaws. The "Grognard boxes" are problematic and the lack of a clear campaign vision is concerning.So, how does the book fare?  Tune in to find out!Have you experienced The Enemy Within? We'd love to hear your thoughts on how this classic shaped your gaming experience!Contact us at:EMAIL: roll.to.save.pod@gmail.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rolltosavepodWEBSITE: https://rolltosave.blogHOSTS: Iain Wilson, Steve McGarrity, Jason DowneyBACKGROUND MUSIC: David Renada (Find him at: davidrendamusic@gmail.com or on his web page).TITLE, BREAK & CLOSEOUT MUSIC: Xylo-Ziko (Find them on their web page).

In this episode, Kristy sits down with Dean from the band Split Jaw for a deep dive into their latest EP, "Truth and Reconciliation." The conversation covers Dean's unique career in cancer research, the intersection of medical experiences and music, and the origins of the band's name (with a nod to Halo lore). Dean shares insights into the band's writing process, the evolution from their first EP to the new release, and how collaboration has shaped their sound.Key Topics:-Dean's background in healthcare and how it influences his creativity-The story behind the band name "Split Jaw" and its Halo connection-The writing and recording process for "Truth and Reconciliation"-Band dynamics: how members like Scum Drop and Jay joined and contributed-The blend of musical influences: metal, hardcore, and nerd culture-Thematic arcs in the EP, from societal critique to personal reflection-The realities of being a DIY band: balancing day jobs, touring, and ambitions-Building community and connecting with fans through social mediaNotable Quotes:“Riffs are king. Everything starts with riffs, everything ends with riffs.”“We'll never do anything we don't want to do. It's all on our terms.”“Metal can be extremely nerdy. There's a through line between metal, RPGs, and Warhammer.”Music Featured:"Truth and Reconciliation" by Split Jaw (title track)Listen for:-Stories about band member recruitment and instant chemistry-How medical terminology inspireds band and song names-Reflections on the challenges and rewards of independent music-making

The crew stumbles into a tunnel designed to kill. Pod racers - turbo-charged hover engines screaming at breakneck speed - tear through every 30 seconds. A mysterious Guild agent is watching. Wrecking Ball Johnston is alive (somehow). And Grin… might finally be gone. His face fades from Doc's palm. But is he truly finished?Who is this? Stealing his essence... Tannis?PLAY THE DUST WORLD RPG NOW:We've released the epic RPG Dust world and we want your help. Dust World PBTA is RPG Empire's sci-fi western game that's simple, fast, and Powered By The Apocalypse. Are you ready? Enter The Gun-Filled Lands Of An Obliterated Civilization. Play as gunslinging anime-inspired heroes on their mission to discover the truth behind the lost civilization and its technology. GET THE GUIDE NOW:https://www.therpgempire.com/shop/p/b2ck9ai8u8d7i6j5xs48oojt742uq2Dust world RPG Podcast is an actual play Role-playing podcast like the Adventure Zone Podcast or Critical Role. The setting is a sci-fi western a few hundred years after a great war burned the earth and a virus called white horse dissolved most organic matter into dust creating the wastelands.Dust World RPG is a Powered By The Apocalypse game. Dust World is a Tabletop Role-Playing game created by Paul Parnell Copywrite 2020. The setting was created by Paul Parnell and Michael Yatskar. The game was written by Paul-Thomas Parnell and Dumaresq de Pencier.OTHER PROJECTS FROM THE RPG EMPIRE:Strangers in the Pines: A Monster Of The Week actually play roleplaying podcast inspired by things like Gravity Falls, Stranger Things, and Fringe. It takes place in a small strange town called Pine Forge nestled in the Blackwood national park in Northeast Oregon, USA, and follows, the exploits of 3 unusual high school students as they try to unravel the mysteries of the Strangers in the Pines.https://www.therpgempire.com/strangers-in-the-pinesCONNECT WITH US:Join our Discord Server to chat with us and talk all things RPGs: https://discord.gg/2jnyGv9Follow and send us DMs on Instagram: @theRPGempireJoin the Empire!

You can support this show on Patreon⁠⁠!Today, I'm talking to Elizabeth Little. She's a UK-based science teacher, artist, and game designer. She co-founded Shrike Studio in 2015 and released games such as Blight Seas Fleet, a dark fantasy naval skirmish game, for which she developed a whole range of 3D printable miniatures. This year, she released a demo of You Will Die In This Place, an RPG described as "a nihilistic dungeoncrawler about art, death and identity". It's weird, meta, layered, and also very asymmetrical like a boardgame. We talk about its design and themes (everything is a labyrinth! relationships, games, mental illness!) and its crowdfunding campaign via GameFound's RPG Party later this year. Crowdfunding link: gamefound.com/en/projects/shrike-studio/you-will-die-in-this-place Itch.io link: https://liz-shrikestudio.itch.io/ Show Notes:The Denial of Death by Ernst BeckerMyth of SisyphusLabyrinths by Jose Luis BorgesDeimos by Dragan Bibin (painting)Toni R. Toivonen's brass art Watching from a Distance by Warning (doom metal album)Essay about the game by the Split/Party newsletterGames MentionedCall of CthulhuDelta GreenWorld of DarknessZephyr: An Anarchist Game of Fleeting IdentitiesYazeba's Bed and BreakfastPaint the Town RedIf you liked this podcast, check out the weekly Indie RPG Newsletter

Draw the shades, cut the wick, the night is past the hour long. For when I die, I pray it's quick, and someone sits to sing my song. Content warnings include: themes of death // desecration of a corpse // gore // misophonia // religious undertones // mentions of blood // complex family dynamics // depictions of mental illness // depictions of vomiting // depictions of disease // disordered eating // class inequality // depictions of spirits & the undead // allusions to suicide // mutilationThank you for joining us through the full meal of this series. The service has completed, all dishes devoured. We hope you feel sated, for now. Sin Eater: Absolution is performed by Jess Lupini and Adam Lucas. Special thanks to our campaign artist, Cenzi, who you can find as @cenzi03 on Instagram. Music and effects by Epidemic Sound and the brilliantly talented Si Rutherford. For more stories, come follow us everywhere at @blackwaterdnd, and make sure to check out our Main Campaign on Monday nights at 8pm PST at twitch.tv/blackwaterdnd. This show is made possible by our sponsors who support us and allow us to tell the stories we want to share. We are grateful to be sponsored by Hero Forge, who offer fully customizable miniatures made with their online 3D character creator! Head on over and design your own Sin Eater, and get them printed in a variety of materials, including colour printing options! With new content added each week, check out www.heroforge.com to start bringing your character to life! We would also like to thank our sponsor Hunter's Entertainment. Hunter's Entertainment is a premier purveyor of tabletop RPGs and board games, providing amazing alternative systems for whatever setting or scenario you want to bring to the table. With titles like Kids on Bikes, Alice is Missing, God's of Metal: Ragnarok, and of course, Sin Eater, Hunter's brings beautifully written & designed books to dive into with your players. Check them out at huntersentertainment.com and sink your teeth into something new. Finally, we're thankful for our Patrons for joining us on our first adventure within Shura. You too can come join us on Patreon, where you can check out behind the scenes info, our talkback show Chatwater, as well as exclusive Sin Eater bonus content and so much more. Head on over to patreon.com/blackwaterdnd for all the info. Thank you for listening, stay hungry and be safe. 

John Harper, the designer behind Blades in the Dark, Agon, and several other RPGs, joins Joe and Jared to discuss the design process, the crafting of the Blades in the Dark setting, and the business of developing RPGs with other creators in the space. Plus, John Harper's list of the best crime fiction movies of all time! Watch the video here: ⁠https://youtu.be/dvCoy2CkpDk Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jointhenaish.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can You Survive a Highstorm with Just a Character Sheet and Poor Life Choices? We Tried the Cosmere RPG. Missed an episode? Don't worry—archive episodes of the RPGBOT.Podcast are now available to listen to on YouTube. Whether you're a veteran listener or just discovering us, you can now catch up on every rules breakdown, hot take, and character optimization deep dive. Just search for RPGBOT.Podcast on YouTube and hit subscribe! Show Notes: In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts crack open the covers of Brotherwise Games' Cosmere RPG, diving headfirst into the Stormlight Handbook and World Guide. From spren to highstorms, the episode is packed with crunchy mechanics, deep lore, and just enough existential dread to make Brandon Sanderson proud. The gang begins with a brief height-based tangent (because no TTRPG is complete without weirdly tall characters), before delving into the key mechanical and narrative innovations of the system. Topics include: The Plot Die, a unique mechanic that lets narrative tension escalate like a Shardbearer duel. A look at the Personal Goals system, designed to reward character growth beyond “I punch it harder now.” The complexity curve compared to D&D 5e and Pathfinder—spoiler alert: this one's for the lore nerds and narrative junkies. Character creation as a journey through Roshar's cultures, forms, talents, and Radiant oaths. Magic systems in the Cosmere—ambitious to adapt, but steeped in storytelling potential. The fear of breaking someone else's toys when homebrewing in a tightly structured setting like the Cosmere. From audience engagement to the challenge of niche game design, the episode hits on what makes this RPG exciting, where it might fall flat for some players, and how deeply it leans into the lore-rich worlds of Brandon Sanderson's imagination. Cosmere RPG Way of Kings (affiliate link) Wu Chang RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes CRAFTING THE COSMERE w/ Andrew Fischer and Lydia Suen: Adapting Brandon Sanderson's Fantasy World into an Epic RPG Key Takeaways: The Cosmere RPG is rich in narrative design, rewarding players who invest deeply in character goals and world lore. Understanding the Cosmere is essential—newcomers may feel lost, while superfans will feel right at home. The Plot Die is an innovative mechanic that injects narrative control and surprise into gameplay. The system's mechanics echo other RPGs, but with enough unique twists to stand out. Character progression is closely tied to personal goals, not just combat or loot. The game leans hard into world-building, making Roshar feel alive and immersive. Homebrewing in the Cosmere can be intimidating, especially for GMs concerned about canon. This TTRPG is ideal for dedicated Sanderson fans, narrative-focused groups, and players who want an experience that feels emotionally and thematically weighty. RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast are made from 100% real humans, not processed generative AI paste. Our team thinks critically, jokes frequently, and sometimes argues about whether gelatinous cubes have a sense of fashion. We're proud of the content we create, because it's built on passion, research, and the occasional poorly-timed dad joke. Ready to explore more RPG deep dives, mechanics breakdowns, and ridiculous tangents? Head to RPGBOT.net for optimization guides, homebrew inspiration, and every episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast. Whether you're storming Roshar or surviving a tavern brawl, we've got your back. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ Meet the Hosts: Tyler Kamstra – The tactical mind behind RPGBOT.net, Tyler sees the Pathfinder action economy like Neo sees the Matrix. Randall James – Technologist, lore enthusiast, and fully prepared to duel Peter Jackson over which LotR edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare. Fueled by sarcasm and sweet, sweet table-flipping energy. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

It's day 21 of #RPGaDay2025 and we're talking about our love of unexpected twists and turns in RPGs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reddicediaries.substack.com

It's day 21 of #RPGaDay2025 and we're talking about our love of unexpected twists and turns in RPGs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reddicediaries.substack.com

Hey now, Cabalists! The gang is back and fired up for another episode of The Cabal! Tony's dealing with his dog's unfortunate bout of diarrhea, Chris went out to see Weird Al, and the crew hit the table with a pile of great new games including Above and Below Haunted, Ark Nova: Marine Worlds, El Burro, Heat Pedal to the Metal, Moon Colony Bloodbath, and feature Shackleton Base by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, published by Sorry We Are French. After Tony T delivers his always-popular News segment, the gang dives into a discussion on the vital connection between theme and mechanisms in board games. Above and Below Haunted: 00:09:41, Ark Nova: Marine Worlds: 00:18:15, El Burro: 00:27:16, Heat: 00:37:35, Moon Colony Bloodbath: 00:46:319, Shackleton Base: 01:04:09, News with Tony T: 01:38:04, Theme and Mechanism Alignment: 02:31:41. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And Game Night Picks at http://gamenightpicks.com/cabal.

Send us a textThis Week:  Finding Home, Calling on the Captain, Speak to Fenris, A Bitter Pill, Consoling Words, Plans for the Future, Isabela's Ongoing Search, Visit Anders, Repentance, Night Terrors, Fool's Gold, Raiders on the Cliffs, Prime Suspect, Inside Job, Cave Crawling, Cavern of Dead, Pick Up Pickaxes Next Week: Blackpowder Courtesy, Dissent, Mirror Image, Back from Sundermount, An Update, Family Matter, The Long Road, Offered and Lost, Legacy DLCDragon Age 2 Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11hISTe_UcimK0p5X0DqsPtSnQN-A4-9cETbz1P6VKGM/edit?usp=sharingGame Guide by Greg Boccia aka noz3r0 https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/988968-dragon-age-ii/faqs/61965Support the showContact: http://linktr.ee/squelchcast Support the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/Squelch or https://www.twitch.tv/dan0play Join our Discord at https://discord.gg/HwPPtX627k

Jared Sorensen is the designer of innovative indie RPGs like Inspectres, Lacuna, octaNe, and the Parsley series. With over two decades in the hobby, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of tabletop storytelling, focusing on unique, tightly defined play experiences. Learn more at Memento Mori Theatricks.

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

In this episode of the RPG series, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Justin Alexander , a renowned game designer and thought leader in tabletop RPGs. Known for his influential essays and innovative GM techniques, Justin shares insights into the role of the Game Master as designer. They dive into how GMs can connect narrative ideas to mechanics, the philosophies behind crafting memorable RPG experiences, and the challenges new GMs often face. Whether you're building worlds or running them, this episode offers practical tools and deep design wisdom.

Episode Summary:Mark Otero (CEO of Azra Games, creator of Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes) joins Player Driven to break down the real reason most games fail — they ignore what players actually want. In this raw, philosophical, and brutally honest conversation, Mark introduces the Hierarchy of Fun — a 5-layer model for building long-lasting emotional engagement in games.From escaping poverty through fantasy as a child in South Korea, to scaling a yogurt shop to fund his first game studio, to building billion-dollar RPGs at EA, Mark's story is a masterclass in design thinking, human behavior, and creative conviction. He also shares why AI will either multiply your creativity or expose your culture — and how his new title Ungodly aims to reset the bar for 4th-gen RPGs.This episode is for game devs, LiveOps leaders, publishing execs, and anyone asking: Why do some games stick... and others don't?

More like Lame Key Cards. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor discuss the pros and cons of physical vs digital and what it means specifically to the history and culture of RPGs. Could it be that sometimes BOTH approaches are appropriate and that instead of pitting them against each other we should be addressing the underlying corporate systems that prevent us from experiencing art as anything other than consumers? Probably!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.comNote: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information. Also in this episode: The joy of getting a map with a game The frustration of downloading mandatory patches EA really is the worst What Tales game needs a remaster Hernias and Ronald McDonald Timestamps: 6:30 - Main Topic - Game Key Cards and the Importance of Physical Game Releases 1:05:14 - Random Encounters 1:11:04-ish - The Tavern - Dragon Age and Mass Effect Remasters, Tales of Xillia Remaster 1:34:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] The Hollow City - [Tales of Xillia 2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our One Hundred and Forty Sixth episode!Our podcast is dedicated to all things board games, RPGs, CGs and more.Pour your favourite beverage, pull up a comfy chair 'cuz we are ready to roll.In this week's episode, we talk about board games Flip 7, The Gang and Jocelyn's adventures at Heroclix nationals. Until next time, on a Double Double ‘n Dice!--------------The following music was used for this media project:Music: Lobby Time by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://www.chosic.com/download-audio/29284/Music: Silent Movie 76 by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/12497-silent-movie-76License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Send us a textContact us: tripledpodcast@dm-north.comCheck us out on www.dm-north.comSupport us at ko-fi.com/dmnorthtvJoin the dmNorthTV DiscordNeed a dice bag? Contact Jocelyn and/or visit JoceStitch Etsy store

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Welcome to #RPGaDAY2025! #RPGaDAY2025 starts on August 1st and many folks will be posting for it one day at a time through the month, while many others share responses in ways that take some preparation time. Please take some time and help spread the news on your social media What is RPGaDAY? Now moving into 12th year, RPGaDAY was launched by David F. Chapman who may be known to you from his work for Cubicle 7 on the long-lived Doctor Who RPG with its innovative Vortex system, this year's new adaptaton of the Laundry Files series to an RPG for C7, for his own intriguing game W.I.L.D., or his days in indie comics. Along the way, I joined in to help. In the ten years since, David and I have been pleased, surprised, and often humbled by how many people in how many places have taken part in this event year after year. Each day this month, roleplaying enthusiasts, industrialists and gamers work from the prompt list below to take inspiration from each of the 31 prompts to post positively in affirmation of the joys and benefits of RPGs and the relationships and skills we have developed as a result.    Check out https://castingshadowsblog.com/ AUTOCRATIK and on Facebook: RPG a Day | Facebook   If you want to join in the fun and get in on a few games, please comment on the ongoing schedule over at our Patreon page   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Looking for previous years #RPGaDAY check them out here: #RPGaDay | Creative Play and Podcast Network Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Greetings, noble Cabalists! This day, the Lords do commence their grand convocation by heeding a missive from a most inquisitive listener, who doth inquire how they divine their next realm of adventure, be it by the singular vision of a lone Game Master, or by the council and clamor of the whole round table. Thereafter, the fellowship embarks upon a most profound discourse concerning the art of embodying one's hero, weaving a soul and spirit into the character, and bringing them to life through word and deed. Hark, and be entertained!

Gaming hosts Josh, Ryan and Ace are back with hot takes on three of the biggest gaming stories this week! First up, we dive into our first impressions of the Battlefield 6 beta test—does it bring the chaos and innovation fans have been waiting for, or is it just another pretty shooter? Then it's on to the surprise release of Titan Quest 2 and whether this long-awaited sequel lives up to its mythological roots. Finally, we're scratching our heads over the weirdest news yet: you can't swim in the new Mafia game… In 2025?! If you love video games and want real, unfiltered reactions to gaming's latest headlines, this is the episode for you. From shock pads to RPGs the Video Gamers Podcast covers it all—gaming never sleeps!   Thanks to our MYTHIC Supporters: Redletter, Disratory, Ol' Jake, Gaius, Jigglepuf and Phelps   Thanks to our Legendary Supporters: HypnoticPyro, Patrick, NorwegianGreaser and PeopleWonder   Connect with the show: Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/videogamerspod Join our Gaming Community: https://discord.com/invite/Dsx2rgEEbz Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/videogamerspod/  Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/VideoGamersPod  Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VideoGamersPod?sub_confirmation=1    Visit us on the web:https://videogamerspod.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices