Heiresses Who Are Not What They Seem Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider how to steal material for RPGs,
and work out an example.
[more]
Press Twice For Amputation Download
This month, Mike and Roger once again attempt RPG-a-Day as
RPG-a-Minute.
[more]
The City is Like a Woman, and She Wants Her Alimony- Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider system choice and system mastery,
and look at Mike's new Blades in the Dark campaign.
[more]
Slug Stores Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider how to do character sheets right,
and ponder the future of generic systems.
[more]
My Sex Life is Cosmically Important Download
This month, Roger and Mike can't get away from bashing dungeons, and
consider the (sadly still-extant) adversarial relationship between
players and game masters.
[more]
James Wallis Burned My Boat Download
This month, Mike and Roger review a bumper set of Bundles of Holding,
consider our gaming plans for 2024, and consider the deep history of RPGs.
[more]
Character Description Language Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider class-and-level and other ways of
building and improving characters.
[more]
As Long As They're Not Nibbling On Your Leg Download
This month, Mike and Roger indulge once more in RPG-a-Day all at once.
[more]
Something John Dee Whipped Up Download
This month, Mike and Roger reveal that really the world was like this
all along, and consider how the Planning Scene can be restrained (and
when it should be).
[more]
A Strong Antinomian Tendency Download
This month, Mike and Roger do an end-of-the-season review of one of
Roger’s masterpieces and let their inner Grumpy Old Men out to have a
rant or two.
[more]
Unresolved Rage About Billy Bunter Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider social interactions modelled as
combat, and magical school stories.
[more]
You Could See Coronation Street From There Download
It's our tenth anniversary! So as a special exception to our usual
format we talk to each other.
[more]
Too Busy Starving to Have a Civil War Download
This month, Mike and Roger try to end slavery. Turns out it's quite hard.
[more]
Extensive Rules On Clothing Download
This month, Mike and Roger make our usual annual visit to RPG a Day .
[more]
Mapping the Kitchens of Camelot Download
This month, Roger and Mike discuss settings that didn't start as RPGs,
and how to make your home base more interesting.
[more]
Out on the Sharp and Bitey End Download
This month, Mike and Roger contemplate madness in gaming, and attempt
to don a veil of ignorance.
[more]
Straitjackets and Scaffolds Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider the history and utility of
character classes… and do not reveal their True Names.
[more]
Eccentrics and Lunatics and Fanatics Download
This month, Mike and Roger wonder whether they're indulging in NPCs
too much, while considering what the late Stephen Sondheim can tell us
about game design.
[more]
Being Wealthy and a Bastard Download
This month, Roger and Mike look for inspiration for a new campaign,
and look into a very old-fashioned one.
[more]
Down These Mean Streets With A Mint Julep Download
This month, Mike gets Roger to talk about his Second World War
campaign, recently ended after fourteen years of play.
[more]
Only One Serious Case Of Assault Download
This month, Roger and Mike attempt to work out what GM skills are .
[more]
Tattered Stockings and Last Year's Surcoat Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at Realm Management and other game
modes which move away from the individual PC, and consider how to
write a TV show bible.
[more]
The Fantasy Gratification Thing Download
This month, Roger and Mike (with guest vocals by Bruce) consider the
British style of role-playing (if any), and a year and more of remote
gaming.
[more]
Fundamental GURPSiness Download
This month, Mike and Roger have played James Bond 007 (thanks to
friend of the show Brett Evill) and consider how to de-crunch a
crunchy game.
[more]
People's Bad Dreams, Gamified Download
This month, Roger and Mike celebrate episode 100.
[more]
A Favour You Can Pick Up And Load Download
This month, Mike and Roger regret a failed campaign, do each other
favours, and contemplate the role of the trap in a modern game.
[more]
Agonised about AGON Download
This month, Roger and Mike talk about what they're up to and how
on-line conventions are working for them, discuss GM nerves, and talk
about how they choose a setting .
[more]
She Had Her Teeth in Boris Johnson Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at the Dracula Dossier, do RPG-a-Day
only a few months late, and generate another Ars Magica character.
[more]
A Large Tick in my Book of Vengeance Download
This month, Roger and Mike generate a character for Ars Magica , and
worry about not fitting into the campaign.
[more]
People are Multipurpose Tools Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider play styles enforced by game
mechanics, and review a couple of unusual RPGs.
[more]
The Best Sort Of Disease Download
This month, Roger and Mike look back on Man to Man and consider
disease when applied to other people.
[more]
In 1895? I Don’t Think So! Download
This month, Mike and Roger are ill, look at paperless play and finish
off our play of The Fathomless Sleep
[more]
Sub-Standard Crocodiles Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider the phenomenon of the Adventurers'
Guild, start a Monster Hunters campaign, and look at what goes wrong
with combat.
[more]
Uninfected Curates Download
This month, Mike and Roger do RPG-a-day, or more accurately
RPG-a-3.1-minutes. Apologies for the audio quality; Roger messed up
the setup (it won't happen (in that specific way) again), then mostly
rescued the recording with Heroic Sound Engineering Skills.
[more]
Council of Guilds and Disgustingly Rich People Download
This month, Mike and Roger get into character, and look at the
differences between Fantasyland and mediaeval Europe.
[more]
Paradisia, A Lawful Good Kingdom Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider what to do once the adventures are
rich beyond even their wildest dreams, try to avoid the boring bits of
game prep, and experiment with an actual play recording.
[more]
Last-Minute Improvised Thrown-Together Wah-Wah Download
This month, Mike and Roger look into conspiracy theories, and pick
apart mystery adventures.
[more]
Teaching Woodlice to Sing Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider characters cleverer than they are,
fail to assume they're sitting round a table, and consider the
narrative implications of The Law.
[more]
Gooshy Stuff Download
This month, Roger and Mike feel burned out, consider the fun of being
evil, and try to work out how to get better at GMing.
[more]
In the Unlikely Event That They Survive Download
This month, Roger and Mike look at random tables, random character
generation and particularly social class, and consider what to do when the
system lets you down.
[more]
I'm Not Quite Sure How You Pervert the Halflings Download
This month, Roger and Mike run through the GURPS Spaceships series,
and consider how and when to construct your own setting.
[more]
Fire Has to Mean Something Download
This month, Mike and Roger revisit RPG-a-Day, and consider some
possibilities for role-playing without violence.
[more]
Weird Oogly-Boogly in the Bigger Picture Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider demonstration scenarios, revisit
the Infinite Worlds, and contemplate how to encourage new players.
[more]
Deceleration Trauma is Not Your Friend Download
This month, Mike and Roger indulge in crass commercialism, consider players who don't turn up reliably, look at high-powered games and how to keep them interesting, and delve into the pulps and what gaming can learn from them.
[more]
Rupert of Hentzau Wants You Dead Download
This month, Roger and Mike (plus a supporting cast of birds and
trains) fire players, think about themes that make them uncomfortable,
and indulge in Ruritanian romance.
[more]
I Shoot the Horde of Bees With My Rifle Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at RuneQuest that isn't RuneQuest,
ponder why some campaigns just flow more easily than others, think
about GURPS books that were never written, and work on long-term
goals.
[more]
I Have Nightmares That Are Like That Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider a historical mystery, ponder how
little you can get away with telling your players, and wonder whether
a rigid lack of metaplot can be as bad as having metaplot in the first
place.
[more]
And His Mother-in-Law and His Flat Feet Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at two games on special offer and one
that's just interesting, and examine name lists and stats for NPCs.
[more]
When You Stumble Into the Underworld Download
This month, Roger and Mike revisit Fall of Magic , and take a long
introductory look at GURPS.
[more]
It Still Feels Like Dying While You're Doing It Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at what it takes to do Star Trek
"right", and explore the language of role-playing and its native
narrative forms; and Mike perpetrates a carefully-organised surprise.
[more]
Plus One Per Adjective Download
This month, for our sixtieth episode, Roger and Mike are inspired by
music, get decadent, and consider their equipment lists. The
inspirational tracks for the first segment are
Rocketman by the Red
Elvises, and Lucifer by
The Alan Parsons Project.
[more]
Unity of Purpose, Comrade Download
This month, Mike and Roger wonder how you know when you're a good GM,
consider their exploits as players, and consider the ideal composition
of a player group.
[more]
I Blamed It On a Dragon Of Their Acquaintance Download
This month, Roger and Mike lack enthusiasm, contemplate great big
detailed settings, and wonder how you lot got involved in role-playing
games.
[more]
Chunky Policeman Kibble Download
This month, Mike and Roger contemplate types of government, and look
at #RPGADay for 2017.
[more]
It All Comes Down to Fire In the End Download
This month, Roger and Mike give advice to the GM of a new time travel
game, and consider the thousands of worlds of a Traveller-style
setting: what makes them interesting? How can this work?
[more]
Much More Likely To Survive the First Civil War Download
This month, Mike and Roger contemplate long-term campaigns with gaps,
travel in gaming time, and consider tech levels: threat or menace?
[more]
You Can't Adjust For Player Competence Download
This month, Mike and Roger criticise themselves regarding Pendragon ,
consider intuition, revisit game recordings, and plan for disaster.
[more]
Let's Not Become Blasphemous This Early Download
This month, Roger and Mike talk about the core concepts of magic, and
distinguishing personality from backstory in character generation.
With spoilers for Dennis Wheatley's The Ka of Gifford Hillary and
Larry Niven's The Magic Goes Away .
[more]
A Complete Pain, Because They Have Principles Download
This month, Mike and Roger talk about adding new players to a
long-running group, spy stories (including a game Roger didn't know he
wanted to play), and the golden age(s) of gaming.
[more]
Watching Robert Go Geeble Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider the games we always run, the laws
of magic, and gaming within a chain of command.
[more]
The Wish-Fulfilment Oyster Download
This month, Mike and Roger talk about why superheroes are terrible,
killing Hitler, utopias, and appropriate rewards and treasures.
[more]
There Would Probably Be Some Aristocratic Totty Involved Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider steampunk, the tendency to add magic to
everything, and epic games.
[more]
Because the Bookshop Owner is an Idiot Download
This month, Mike and Roger outline a new magic system, consider Trail
of Cthulhu as it's on sale at the Bundle of Holding this month, and
contemplate the practical application of Microscope.
[more]
You Are X That Do Y In a World In Which... Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider Dungeon Fantasy Powered By GURPS,
when campaigns go wrong, and GURPS Adaptations.
[more]
A Cycle of Death, Depression and Gloom Download
This month, Mike and Roger talk with
Marcus Rowland , take a
wildly accelerated pass through
#RPGADay2016 , and find
that they're both starting to run The Great Pendragon Campaign .
[more]
God Says No Backsies Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider inappropriate laughter,
player-driven world-changing, training, the tension of paradigms, and
temptation. (Yes, it's longer than usual.)
[more]
Ludo-Narrative Dissonance Download
This month, Mike and Roger talk with
Nick Marsh , consider the ending of
Roger's Torg game (and what's likely to follow it), and anatomise
Michael's engagement with this year's Game Chef.
[more]
Carry On Up the UNIT HQ Download
This month, Roger and Mike finish our talk with John Dallman and Dr
Bob, promote a new game book, and talk about cliffhangers.
[more]
There Ought To Be A Housekeeping Section Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider After the End, problems peculiar
to long-running campaigns, and the layout of role-playing rules.
[more]
Random Political Shenanigans Generation Table Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at politics, and particularly how to
bring political elements into games.
[more]
Groupies Wearing Corsets and Top Hats Download
This month, Mike and Roger examine some real-life weirdness, interview
Phil Masters , discuss the passage of
game time, and consider the future of the future of role-playing games.
[more]
The Rough Wheels of their Intellects Download
This month, Mike and Roger talk about how to get started in Tékumel,
the negotiations at the start of a campaign, an anniversary adventure,
and the shaving of yaks.
[more]
Find Our Werewolf, Please, and Try Not to Get Eaten By Him Download
This month, Roger and Mike discuss RPG a Day 2015, and how to get
started as a GM.
[more]
A Step Over into the Anything Can Happen Download
This month, Mike and Roger compare generic systems, get romantic, and
touch on more real-life weirdness.
[more]
Politically Subversive Occultism Disguised as Pornography Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at Savage Worlds, the Amazing Engine,
and GM-player miscommunications.
[more]
Why Feudalism Is Not A Good Idea Download
This month, Roger and Mike look at the turbulent fourteenth century,
and cross-universe games.
[more]
Corrupt and Decadent Astrophysicists Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider doom and gloom: backwards
character progression, campaigns after the big hero or villain is
gone, and game worlds in which things are slowly getting worse.
[more]
The Snake May Disagree Download
This month, Roger and Mike look at single-protagonist stories, end
campaigns, and pontificate on what should be in a new edition of an
old game.
[more]
Plain Tales from Olympus Mons Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider three games of pulp space, and
look at surrealism in RPGs.
[more]
The Guru Who Lives at the Pointy Big Mountain Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider preparation for a seasonal
one-shot, Dragonmeet and what we want
for Christmas, and at least two sorts of handwavium.
[more]
Just Look at All the Flashing Lights Download
This month, Mike and Roger consider how much weirdness is too much,
discuss how to steal material, contemplate pre-written adventures and
look back on a gaming classic.
[more]
Cthulhu Doesn't Want to be Stroked Download
There's something off with the sound quality this time round, possibly
interference on the recording. Sorry about that.
This month, Roger and Mike consider disease, recorded game sessions,
running the same scenario with different systems, and how to worry
experienced role-players.
[more]
You have specialised tastes, sir! Download
This month, Mike and Roger answer David F. Chapman's
RPG a Day
questions, and consider GMing advice.
[more]
Miraculous Geography Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider maps and other visual aids to
gaming, contemplate the problems and opportunities afforded by foreign
languages, and venture with some trepidation into the politics of RPGs.
[more]
I Would Want to Hunt Out a Virgin Download
This month, Mike and Roger hurl some games aside with great force,
consider their local area as a role-playing setting, try to be
consistent, and discuss a possible new way of introducing people to
gaming.
[more]
That "Oh, Wow" Moment Download
This month, Roger and Mike discuss Paranoia and adversarial GMing, ask
how little you can tell your players before a campaign starts, have a
rant about story games with limited-use abilities, and praise thematic
worldbuilding.
[more]
All the Brass Bands in the World Download
This month, Mike and Roger discuss how to get started at worldbuilding, how you can persuade your players to co-create, Roger's Torg campaign, and how to be a good playtester.
[more]
Still Plenty of Doom to Go Around Download
This month,
Mike and Roger discuss types (and pathologies) of GM,
apocalyptes,
campaign design when uninspired,
and adapting settings.
[more]
Can't Go Wrong with a Mad Nun Download
This month, Roger and Mike talk about Rolemaster and Microscope, and are Never Unprepared.
[more]
A lot less criminality in my family Download
This month, Mike, Roger, and special guest John Dallman talk about gaming in the Second World War, and a little about military role-playing in general.
[more]
You Can Do Awesome Stuff Right Now Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider Dragonmeet and games that aren't RPGs, look back at Tékumel, consider what's different about modern games, and contemplate seasonal adventures.
[more]
Everybody Ignores Radiation Shielding Download
This month, Mike and Roger bring 2300AD out of the cupboard, take another look at Torg, and consider death and other things players don't like.
[more]
Competing Mostly Against Each Other Download
This month, Roger and Mike consider weather and other things too complicated for realistic simulation, and bring In Nomine out of the cupboard.
[more]
A Chance to Die Well Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at Torg, consider campaigns we don't have time to run, and ask: "Is it fun?".
[more]
Mostly by blowing them up Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at Feng Shui, metaplot and big changes to campaigns, and restarting an old campaign.
[more]
As long as they don't have to be too French about it Download
This month, Roger and Mike (and bonus aeroplanes and police cars courtesy of a sweltering High Wycombe) revisit being a better player, build a modern British Empire, and bring out an old game from the cupboard.
[more]
Bits of the Bard Download
This month, Mike and Roger look at story games, campaign design, and Shakespeare in gaming -- but not Cyberpunk (at least not this time). The first three and a half minutes have some untoward hum, for which we apologise.
[more]
Giant Radioactive Scorpions Download
This month, Roger and Mike look at how to be a better player, classic
campaigns like the Slave Lords and Masks of Nyarlathotep, games you
can play at short notice, and a new feature: Counterfactuals to Order.
[more]
Systems and Settings Download
This month, Mike and a newly-married Roger consider systems, settings, and how each gets adapted to the other.
[more]
In Space Download
This month, Roger and Mike look at Space Opera, and interstellar
science fiction gaming in general.
[more]
Back to the Dungeon Download
This month, Roger and Mike go back to the roots of role-playing. We
also have an interview with Michael Mornard, also known as Old Geezer,
who brings us recollections of the early days of what would become
Dungeons and Dragons.
[more]
Modern Horror Download
This month, Mike and Roger contemplate horror in the modern world.
[more]
The Singularity... and After Download
Welcome to our first show. Roger and Mike discuss the Singularity and
how to game it,
[more]