Episode 33: Dark Sun Rundown

David Schimpff reconvenes his old group to conduct a detailed deconstruction and analysis of one his most successful campaigns (ironically played with one of his least favorite systems): Dark Sun!


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Episode 32: Introductory Scenarios

In this, the last of our "solo" shows for the foreseeable future and final show of 2014, David Schimpff discusses introductory scenarios and their use, and provides actual-play examples from sessions past.



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Episode 31: System Spotlight/Editorial - Palladium Books

For this episode, David Larkins takes a turn at the mic to rant about his ambivalence towards the line of RPGs produced by Palladium Books. It's sort of a combination of warning and sales pitch, really...

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Episode 30: Spicing Up Your Game

This week, David S. and Susan (with a little help from David L.) discuss methods of spicing up games, and how to get ideas for your games. Plus: more pipe dreams!

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Episode 29: System Spotlight/Editorial - D&D 4e

In this episode, we turn David Schimpff loose for his long-promised rant about 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. Fair warning: profanity ensues (moreso than usual), tables are pounded. This is a sort of hybrid of our System Spotlight and Editorial features, so sit back and enjoy...

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Episode Twenty-Eight: Open-World Gaming

For this week's episode, Dave S. and Susan talk about open-world and sandbox-style play (in contrast to last episode's discussion of railroading). They also take a look at the Worldspinner Kickstarter and return to our recurring segment, Campaign Pipedreams.


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Episode Twenty-Seven: Maps and Mapping

The first episode of our second season finds David S. and Susan discussing the role of maps and mapping in games, as well as resources for the cartographically-challenged.


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Episode Twenty-Six: System Spotlight - Call of Cthulhu

It's a record number of hosts for this, our one-year anniversary episode, and we have a long overdue discussion of one of our all-time favorite systems, Call of Cthulhu.


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Episode Twenty-Five: Brain Dump

David S. and Susan spend this episode unloading a veritable truckload of setting ideas, plot hooks, and gaming memories. It's a grab-bag of an episode, so you can take you like and leave the rest!


And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Episode Twenty-Four: Railroading

In this week's episode, David S. and Susan discuss that old bugbear known as railroading. Plus: more Campaign Pipedreams!


And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Episode Twenty-Three: Character Creation

A discussion of the ins and outs, ups and downs, and pros and cons(?) of character creation in its many wondrous varieties, and our hosts' picks for their favorite and least-favorite chargen systems. Plus: Campaign Pipedreams!

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And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Episode Twenty-Two: Some More D&D, Play-by-Post Gaming, and Long-Term Campaigning

This, our first episode with three hosts, is a bit of a grab-bag. David L. shares some follow-up thoughts from last week's episode on the new edition of D&D, and then we segue into talking about that strange sub-genre of RPG gaming, play-by-post. We then segue into a discussion of how to keep campaigns running long-term and then share some more Campaign Pipe Dreams.



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Episode Twenty-One: D&D Basic

In this episode, David S. and Susan share their initial impressions on the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons.



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Episode Twenty: Small Groups, Big Groups

For this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of small groups and large alike - everything from playing by yourself (it's possible!) to double-digits. Also, we debut an as-yet-unnamed segment in which we discuss campaigns or campaign frameworks we've always wanted to run.

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And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Episode Nineteen: System Spotlight - Iron Kingdoms RPG

For this system spotlight, regular host David Schimpff sits down to talk the Iron Kingdoms RPG with fellow GM Susan Steward, who is currently running an IKRPG campaign. Everything you ever wanted to know about the game's setting and mechanics, all in one easy-to-digest episode. Goes down smooth!



And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Episode Eighteen: D&D Fifth and Bringing In New Players

A two-topic episode in which we start off with a look at the latest news concerning Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (and our thoughts on said news), before pivoting into a discussion on how to bring new players into your group, or start a new group of your own.



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Episode Seventeen: Adversaries, Villains, and Mooks

For this episode, we bring in a special guest to help us talk about the pleasures and pitfalls of villainy and adversarial play...



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Episode Sixteen: World-Building and NPCs

For this episode, we explore the related topics of world-building and NPCs: how we go about conceptualizing campaigns; homebrew versus published settings; NPC use, abuse, and management; plus more!



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Episode Fifteen: Death and Resurrection

It's sort of an Easter special this time, because we're talking about death and resurrection…of characters, of campaigns, of whole systems. Good idea? Bad idea? You'll just have to listen to find out.



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Episode Fourteen: The Trail of Chekhov's Gun

In this episode, we take a close look at the Trail of Cthulhu RPG, and use that as a springboard to talk a bit about games that use rules to create a "narrative" play experience.



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Episode Thirteen: Systems and Settings (Part Two)

We conclude our rambling overview of matching systems to genres. There's so much more we skipped over, and if you've got a favorite genre-system we didn't talk about, please let us know and give us your thoughts!


And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! And be sure to check out our Twitter feed and Google Plus group if you want to keep up via social media.

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Editorial: Actual-Play Recordings

We were unable to record a proper session this time around, and so we go instead to our Editorial Department, where David Larkins weighs in with his opinion on actual-play recordings. (Hint: he likes them.)




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Episode Twelve: Systems and Settings (Part One)

This one turned out to be a two-parter, and no wonder! We're discussing matching systems to genres, and providing a quick overview of systems past and present that are particularly associated with certain settings or genres. We...may get a bit off-topic from time to time, as well. Like that's never happened before...




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Episode Eleven: System Spotlight - Dungeons & Dragons

It's the 40th anniversary year for Dungeons & Dragons, so we figured maybe we should get around to talking about the world's most popular role-playing game. As usual for our system spotlights, we discuss D&D's past, present, and future, as well as our personal take on and relationship to the system. Some strongly-held opinions vis a vis specific editions are, of course, expressed, and David S. has his mind blown by the concept of race-as-class.


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Episode Ten: Miniatures Wargaming

In this episode, we depart from our usual chatter about tabletop RPGs to discuss their cousin, miniatures wargaming. We take a look at the hobby's past, present, and future, and offer some personal suggestions for favorite games and figure lines.


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Episode Nine: System Spotlight - King Arthur Pendragon

This episode sees us answering a listener-submitted question about epic campaigns before moving on to our second "System Spotlight" installment, this time focusing on the King Arthur Pendragon RPG.



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Episode Eight: Player versus GM!

In this episode, we discuss the different experiences and skillsets inherent to the player experience versus the game master experience. To help us dissect the issue, we bring in special guest Jade, the newest member of our tabletop group, who has both played and run RPGs for the first time over the course of the previous year.



And remember to call our Lake Geneva, WI, voicemail number (262-729-9774), or click on the Speakpipe link on the lower right corner of this page, or leave us a comment with questions or issues you'd like us to address in future episodes! Thanks for listening!