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Most games start as an idea in the GM’s head. However, it takes some work to go from idea to having a full campaign ready to run. Tom and I discuss the process of creating a campaign and our experiences in creating and running them. If you want to make a game that lasts more than a few sessions, you should give our advice a try. Plus, a very personal letter from Tom, in which he admits that he’s a cheating bastard, shout outs and new anecdotes!

Shout Outs:

  • Day by Day Armageddon: If you write a zombie apocalypse novel do NOT do what this novel did. It’s just terrible. So very very terrible.
  • Mutant Chronicles: A movie based on the RPG, Mutant Chronicles. And it’s so horrible that words can’t adequately describe how horrible it is.
  • Bigger Faster Stronger: A documentary about power gamers in real life, steroid users. An excellent look into the mindset of the athletes and gym rats who use it and the culture that condones winning at all costs.
  • House of Leaves: This is a crazy book. I’m not done with it but it is worth reading.

Music: Write My Story by Air 5.
Promo: RPG Life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27:42 — 50.2MB)

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Character creation is the glue of role playing games. A game can’t be that good unless everyone has a player character suitable for the game. A crazed psychopath slasher appropriate for a Bunnies and Burrows campaign while a cute talking bunny isn’t going to last long in a call of cthulhu game. In this episode, Tom, special guest Cody Walker and I talk about the best and the worst player characters we’ve encountered both as players and when running a game. No letter from Tom, but there’s a good ass anecdote.

Hosted by Ross Payton, Tom Church and Cody Walker.

Music: Into the Night by Time Warrior

Shout Outs:
Grant Morrison: The chaos magician comic book writer has a new website.
Gumshoe: A new RPG system by Robin Laws. Perfect for investigation games.
Wild cards: Mutants and Masterminds supplement.
Aaron Sorkin: Go bitch at him about Facebook or something.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22:54 — 47.5MB)

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While most of our shows so far have focused on running a great game, we thought we would give some advice for the other side of the GM Screen. In other words, the players. Of course, we talk about D&D 4th Edition, the death of Erick Wujcik, recent games we played, Raillery, my awesome new comedy video podcast and more. Tom was too lazy to write a letter, so instead we review The Happening and Machine Girl and tell a few anecdotes. I have a brand spanking new anecdote from playing D&D 4E and listener Eternal Green sent in a few. Don’t forget to check out our new forums!

Shout Outs:

  • Colonial Gothic: A new horror RPG set in colonial America. Great research into the period and it’s a fresh idea for a horror setting. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, anyone?
  • Let’s Play: An archive of playthroughs of video games, both old and new. This video from the Darkseed 2 is all you need to understand how great this is.
  • Iron Age Sourcebook for Mutants and Masterminds: In the 80s and 90s, superheroes fought crime to the MAXX and by Maxx I meant that they murdered their enemies. It was pretty cool although Rob Liefield can’t draw a human body worth a shit.

Hosted by Ross Payton and Tom Church
Music: A new song from Vitamins and Minerals of Death that I will use in the next Raillery video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:22 — 36.3MB)

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