RPPR Episode 83: Maps and Legends
News: Fallout Without End, a new scenario of the No Security ransom pack from Hebanon Games is now available! We’re still cranking out videos at Raillery. The map is part of the Zombie Factory, a chapter in the upcoming Base Raiders RPG.
Synopsis: Travel and exploration is adventurous in real life but not in role playing games. Someone like Marco Polo is a major figure in history, yet in Dungeons and Dragons, his accomplishments would be minor compared to the average 10th level fighter. Tom and I try to tackle why exploration in games fails to capture the sense of adventure it does in reality and how it can be made to do so. We even tackle random encounter tables, sense of place, and other tangentially connected topics. Instead of a letter, Tom discusses his trip to Seattle and of course shout outs and an anecdote or two.
Shout outs
- Ship Breaker: Good YA dystopian sci-fi novel about a kid living as a salvager of old oil tankers – bleak but well written. Great setting too.
- Nemesis: A totally insane cyberpunk action film with more gunfire than the Matrix. For reals. Also, check out this gif.
- Great White Space: An interesting if flawed Lovecraftian horror novel about a doomed expedition.
- Apocalypse World: An indie post-apocalyptic RPG that’s all the rage with the Seattle scene apparently.
- The Upper Berth: A ghost story with the best framing device ever. More cigars and champagne!
- The Devil’s Rock: A New Zealand made WW2 horror film. I did Nazi that coming. Okay I’ll go now.
- Speed Tribes: A book about the different subcultures of the younger generations in Tokyo. A bit dated, but still a great read.
- McBain: A Rifftrax where Christopher Walken sleepwalks through an action film that makes literally no sense. Highly entertaining! Aaron recommends it.
- Todd and The Book of Pure Evil: A 2 season comedy horror TV show on Netflix about high school, cults, and heavy metal. What’s not to love?
Music: Ghost Maps by The Minor Leagues.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:03 — 80.4MB)
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RPPR Episode 82: Back That Story Up
News: I’ve redesigned Raillery as a Video Game Actual Play podcast/Youtube channel. Check out our new videos! In Base Raiders news, the Pariah ebook has been released to Kickstarter backers. It will be made available on Amazon and Smashwords in the near future for people that missed the Kickstarter.
RPPR is pleased to announce a Know Evil Fan Creation Contest! Between now and the end of the Know Evil Eclipse Phase campaign on RPPR Actual Play, any fan that submits a bit of fan art or fan fiction will be entered into a contest to win a Know Evil poster, signed by Caleb, Ross and other RPPR regulars! Read this thread on the RPPR forums for more details.
Synopsis: Player character back stories and motivations are a tricky subject in RPGs. Meta gaming motivations or creating inappropriate or useless back stories an hinder a game. Tom is out of town, so Caleb, Aaron, and I discuss our thoughts on player motivations vs PC motivations and back stories in general. We also have shout outs and Caleb shares a special anecdote about the ‘Fun Factory’.
Shout outs
- The Phantom of Wilson Creek: A RPPR listener, Max Writer on our forums, published this monograph through Chaosium. Congratulations!
- Synnibarr Kickstarter: Yes, I backed it. I am a horrible monster.
- Danger Club: Watch out olds, the sidekicks are kicking ass and taking names. A good comic.
- FATE Core Kickstarter: FATE is a neat RPG system and the Kickstarter for it offers crazy good rewards. Check it out!
- Hellboy in Hell: Pretty much what you would expect.
- Saga: An epic fantasy comic about a young couple, their baby, and some crazy fantasy bullshit. Read it. It’s great!
- Neocolonialism: Kickstarter for a new video game about global economics. The tagline says it all – Ruin Everything.
- Title Builder: From the Doug Benson podcast.
- Wrath of the Lamb: DLC for the Binding of Isaac.
- AMV Hell 6: Animu is funny with silly music.
- Rifftrax shorts: Find out what is more dangerous than dynamite.
Music: Looking at Black Clouds by Serphonic
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:05 — 58.5MB)
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RPPR Episode 81: Mega-Damaged
News: Check out the newest Story Bundle! My book, Zombies of the World, is one of the bonus ebooks you can get if you pay the average of $8 or more. The bundle also features F. Paul Wilson and other great authors!
I also wrote up a detailed post-mortem of my recent Call of Cthulhu one shot based on the indie video game, Hotline Miami.
Synopsis: I asked Tom what he wanted to do an episode on and he chose the Palladium game system. So here we are. After going over our history with the system, we go over the game, from its mechanics to the setting of Rifts. It’s not pretty, but hopefully entertaining. Tom’s letter is about Rifts of course, and we have shout outs, a listener letter, and an anecdote.
Shout outs:
- Story Bundle: Buy these ebooks! They make great Christmas gifts 😀
- SSSSSSS: A 1970s horror movie about people being turned into giant snakes because of reasons.
- The Drift: New SG-1 Stargate novel. Interesting plot, characterization, and excellent attention to detail.
- A Monster in Paris: CGI animated film about a monster (in Paris).
- Miskatonic River Press and Punktown Kickstarter: Get Lovecraftian games and fiction!
- HP Lovecraft books Skyrim mod: Reading Lovecraft books in real life get you down? There’s got to be a better way!
- Dead Pixels: A new indie game on Steam about shooting zombies, so you know I dig it.
- Legend of Grimrock: Indie CRPG modeled after old school games like Eye of the Beholder. Clever puzzles and fun combat.
Song: Multidimensional Consciousness by the Flavor Foundation
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:34 — 71.1MB)
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