RPPR Episode 127: Mistakes are Inevitable – Learning New Games
News: RPPR Tabletop Tales is up and running! Check our newest podcast of campaign actual play. Our first campaign, the Dresden Files, is currently on its first season. Also, be sure to check out Thrilling Intent on Youtube. Caleb and I will be guests on their livestream on April 30th at 5 pm EST when Faust runs Delta Green. Watch this video for more details.
Synopsis: A lot of gamers get stuck in a routine of only ever playing a few of their favorite systems. Bill, Dan, Faust, and I talk about the joys and challenges of learning and running new RPGs. We talk about new systems that aren’t even out yet, like Upwind and Red Markets, and published systems like Feng Shui 2 and Dresden Files. We also have shout outs and anecdotes!
Shout Outs
- Noisy Person Cards: A fun party card game put out by the fine folks at the One Shot Podcast.
- Curse of Strahd: A new 5E D&D adventure set in Ravenloft. An excellent book for any GM.
- Lithium Hosting: RPPR’s new web host. Great customer service!
- Hyper Light Drifter: A new indie Zelda-ish action RPG. Faust approved!
- Black Tapes: A horror story podcast worth checking out.
- Discovering Scarfolk: A book about a sinister and hidden village in England.
- Tanis Podcast: A weird fiction podcast by the same people behind Black Tapes.
- Duolingo: Want to learn a new language? Try this free app out.
- Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: Part cook book, part survival guide. Worth it for the Red Markets idea fodder.
- Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide: A rehash of Forgotten Realms material from previous editions.
- Enter the Gungeon: An action game that combines dungeon crawling with GUNS. So many guns.
- Idea Channel and Game/Show Channel on Youtube from PBS. Great videos on a bunch of cool topics.
Song: Interlude (Lost in the Freezer Section) by ???groceries
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:27 — 47.1MB)
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Interview with Greg Stolze on the Unknown Armies Kickstarter
Caleb and I talked to Greg Stolze about his latest project, the third edition of Unknown Armies, a post-modern horror role playing game. Urban legends, obsessions, occult conspiracies, and the invisible clergy are all part of a compelling modern game. It is also a profoundly humanist game, where humanity is the center of the universe, not cosmic and unfeeling alien gods beyond our comprehension. Greg talks about changes to the setting, new mechanics for Unknown Armies and game design in general. If you are interested in checking out the game, I recommend backing the Kickstarter so you can read the latest draft of the game now.
Unfortunately, we did have some recording errors, so some of the questions will have an echo. I tried to fix it in post but there’s only so much you can do.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:16 — 31.4MB)
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RPPR Panel: The Case Against Fun – Social Critique & RPGs
Fun is obviously a byproduct of games, but that’s where the usefulness of the term ends. This seminar presents the case against fun as a design goal, method of criticism, and aesthetic in gaming. Caleb Stokes (No Soul Left Behind/No Security) and Ross Payton (Base Raiders/ Zombies of the World) discuss the negative and positive uses of the word of fun in gaming, along with other critical frameworks by which the word can be understood (such as the 8 types of fun).
This panel was recorded at Gen Con 2015 and I forgot to post it until now! Better late than never, I guess.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:36 — 26.5MB)
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