Postcards from the Dungeon

Jeb and Steve are back on the mic’s! They talk about Kickstarter and what’s perhaps the new Golden Age of RPG’s with the bloom of indie games, game ideas, and direct funding of indie books in print. Then Jeb makes a painful confession – system just might matter! Then we discuss adapting RPG setting books, […]

In which Doug, the creator of a new Sci-Fi RPG system currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.com, discusses his game Parsec. Now,  fully funded!   Media Kickstarter: Parsec

Two brief interviews, one with Tresi on how “Burning a Character” in Burning Wheel works. Another with Colen McAlister, of Lone Wolf Development, on Hero Lab; their software tool for GM’s and Players. Media RPG: Burning Wheel RPG: Mongoose’s Traveller RPG: Dresden Files RPG: Spirit of the Century RPG: Mouse Guard Software: Hero Lab Software: […]

In which Steve interviews Michael about his gaming and programming past, hears a description of “RPG Toolkit” and then discuss his latest release for the iPhone, Narratavius. Media RPG: Savage Worlds App Developer: Baked Ham Games App: RPG Toolkit App: Narratavius Web: Narratavius Game Designer: Daniel Solis Writer: Greg Stolze Game Designer: Fred Hicks RPG: […]

In which Jeb and Steve re-record the lost episode about different ways for generating player character’s, both methods and the source for character ideas. MICE: M – Milieu I – Idea C – Character E – Event Media Web Series: Standard Action iPhone App: Narratavius RPG: Traveller (Mongoose) RPG: Marvel Universe RPG RPG: The Ultimate […]

Jim and Steve discuss the current crop of Fall TV shows. Then we discuss how to maintain the separation between kid-friendly and adult themed story telling. Media Web Series: Standard Action Fund Raiser: Standard Action: Season Two Convention: Fear the Con 5 TV: Walking Dead (2010) TV: Boardwalk Empire (2010) TV: Mad Men (2007) TV: […]

Steve interviews Mac Almy and they discuss physics and how real physics relates to rpg’s, movies, and TV. DriveThruRPG Discount Use Coupon Code: DiceInTheFall for 20% off, of all of the following (good thru 11/10/2011): Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion [Pinnacle Entertainment] Realms of Cthulhu [Reality Blurs] Karma Roleplaying System Core [Bards and Sages] FantasyCraft [Crafty […]

In which Jim and Steve discuss some of the problems and advantages to running a military style campaign, and a few details about the modern American military that may help make your campaign more realistic. Announcements Standard Action needs help funding season two! Media Web Series: Standard Action Fund Raiser: Help fund season two! Used […]

In which Jeb and Steve discuss Steve’s Whiny Complaint of the week, centered on an obvious plot oversight in Megamind. Then they go on to discuss character archetypes and how to make them more interesting than just the standard stereotypes we’ve all seen a hundred times. They enumerate various archetypes for different genres and games, […]

In which Steve discusses genetics with John: some fascinating facts that could be great material for story telling, how genetics are portrayed in popular media, and even how genetics could be handled in a fantasy settings. Announcements Please check out the Web Series: Standard Action If possible, please support their second season! IndoGoGo: Standard Action [...]

In this special episode Steve discusses the web series Standard Action with series creator, writer, producer, and actor – Joanna Gaskell. Media Web Series: Standard Action IndieGoGo: Help Fund Season Two! IMDB: Standard Action IMDB: Joanna Gaskell IMDB: Rob Hunt IMDB: Tara Pratt IMDB: Daniel Johnston IMDB: Edwin Perez

In which Jeb and Steve share their experiences with Gencon 2011 in Indianapolis. Then we share an interview Steve did with two of the creators from Hex Games, the publishers of QAGS and M-Force. If you want in on that RPGNow.com Gift Certificate Give-Away … then click this link, read the rules, and enter! Special [...]

In which Jeb and Steve discuss the challenge of being a green GM and how to improve and generate meaningful feedback. Then they go on to discuss the movie “Captain America, The First Avenger.” Spoiler Alert! This episode contains many, detailed, spoilers for the movie. If you haven’t seen “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011), [...]

In which Jim and Steve discuss gaming with very small groups, even one-on-one and the related topic of gaming with a large group, but pulling people out for a little one-on-one to handle a specific character’s arc before they rejoin the full group. Then we discuss pacifism in RPG, both on the part of PC’s [...]

In which Steve and a Professor of History discuss what history can teach us, and what special insights can be learned by contemplating “Counterfactuals” (i.e. possible alternate histories). We discuss different models for historical causality, or what the professionals refer to as “human agency.” How much does any particular human decision drive history? Is history [...]