Role Playing Public Radio

Red Markets has a whole line of supplements, such as Veblen Goods and Trabajo, an enclave book. Sean Farris, one of the writers behind the Veblen Guide, visited Springfield and talked to Caleb and I about Red Markets. We discussed the challenges writing supplements for an existing game and collaborating with others, among other topics. Song: Needle and Thread by Kill Matilda

News: Check out the latest RPPR After Hours for an in-depth discussion on traps in fantasy RPGs! Synopsis:Thad and I both recently played Control, a new video game about a secret government agency that tries to protect the world from supernatural forces while also trying to exploit that power for their own ends. Obviously, this is a riff on the SCP Foundation, but even that is part of a larger tradition of giant and usually evil (or at least corrupt) bureaucracies in horror games. Whether they are corporate or governmental, these bureaucracies wield as much power as an elder god and cannot be easily stopped or slain. We talk about how to subvert or change these tropes to make your next game or player character more interesting. Thad is @ThaddeusStrange on Twitter and I am @rosspayton Shout Outs Ballad of Black Tom: a brilliant Lovecraftian horror novella Astral Chain: a new beat em up from Platinum Games The Hitcher: a horror film starring Rutger Hauer as a terrifying hitchhiker Mob Psycho 100: A new anime series from the creator of One Punch Man The Dead Don’t Die: A zombie film directed by Jim Jarmusch The Wind: A Western horror film about life out on the Prairie Songs: Selections from The Iron Triangle: Bureaucracy by The Great Wall

Three game designers discuss their current projects and answer audience questions at Gen Con 2019. Find out about the new edition of Blue Planet, the latest from Red Markets, and more! Panelists: Ross Payton Jeff Barber – Get the Quickstart guide for Blue Planet: Recontact for free! Caleb Stokes – Get Trabajo now!

More Gen Con coverage continues with Jay B, Renee, and Aaron. We discuss escape rooms, Space Hulk, and a lot more! Games Discussed below the fold Song: ??? by ? ? Corp. & t e l e p a t h Oink Games: Publishes Deep Sea Adventures, Troika, and Dungeons of Mandom Epic Adventure Candles: scented candles with fantasy themes Western Legends: A Western open sandbox adventure board game Atelier: a board game about painting masterpieces Space Hulk: a miniatures Warhammer 40k board game Into the Dragon’s Lair Escape Room: Link goes to the room’s organizer Noble Armada: a space combat game in the Fading Suns setting Writer’s Symposium: A track of panels about writing at Gen Con Hellboy Board Game: a game based on the comic series Bee Lives: a board game about building the best bee colony Free Spacer: a sci-fi RPG we played this year

We are back from Gen Con and we have a lot to talk about! In fact, we had so much to talk about it, I split the episode into 2 parts. Caleb, Maddy, special guest Sean Farris, and I talk about the games we played and bought and other highlights. In the second segment of this episode, Tom and Greg talk about their experiences. Games we discuss (in no particular order, below the fold) Song: 10 years of Vaporwave by EIS Eclipse Phase Second Edition: A new edition of the transhuman sci-fi horror RPG Black Angel: A board game about an AI-piloted ark spaceship Mental Blocks: a party board game about building objects with foam shapes Never Going Home: A weird WW1 horror RPG. Point Salad: a fun game about scoring points with veggies Dialect: a storytelling game about language and how it dies Band of Blades: A RPG about a company of soldiers trying to survive The Skeletons: A game about a group of skeletons guard a tomb Mystery House: An innovative puzzle game Ribbon Drive: a storytelling game about road trips and mix tapes Dinosaur Princesses: a RPG about dinosaurs who happen to be princesses Homebrewers: a board game about brewing beer at home Men at Work: a construction themed dexterity board game Medium: a party game about guessing words d20 Burlesque: a geeky burlesque troupe that performed at Gen Con Terror Below: a legally distinct board game that is not Tremors Dune board game: a new board game based on the classic novel series We’re Doomed: a party game about the end of the world Power Rangers: Heroes of the Grid: a co-op game based on the TV series 5211: a fast playing card game Tuki: a new polynomio game Die Hard: a board game based on the classic action movie Watergate: a new board game based on the political crisis  

I have attended every Gen Con since 2007 and it has become a very important part of my life. It led to the creation of RPPR, my career in RPG writing, and the start of many deep friendships. Without RPPR, I would have never met Maddy. I have no idea what my life would be without Gen Con, RPPR, and Maddy. Enjoy this very special RPPR Live!

News: The RPPR Patreon has a new milestone and if we reach it, we will create new RSS feeds for your favorite classic campaigns, like Know Evil. This will allow you to easily download them with your favorite podcasting app. Learn more details on our Patreon. We have an example RSS feed for the Final Revelation campaign. Synopsis:Our campaign of Reign, Nagalisitu, is over. We got together to discuss the story, the game mechanics, and what we thought of the Hunting Pack’s journey. Find out where the title word comes from, our favorite moments, and a lot more! Cast: Ross, Caleb, David, Jay B, and Aaron Music: Game Over by Amerigo Gazaway

News: The RPPR Patreon has a new podcast, Questing for Answers! We’ve posted 2 episodes already and if you’re a patron, your questions can be answered in the next episode. Synopsis: Origins has come and gone and Birk and I have a blast there. The Shadowrun 6th Edition Beginner Box was released there so we picked up some copies for review. Bridget, our resident Shadowrun GM, joins in to see what’s changed for the new edition. Birk and I discuss a new sci-fi horror RPG, Mothership, as well as the RPGs we played at Origins. Check out The Mixed Six for additional Origins coverage Don’t forget to follow Cry Novel on Twitter! Song: Boxers Paradise (feat. ev?.?exi)  by Pad Chennington

Caleb is working on a new game! Called Doctor, Witch Doctor, it’s a fun storytelling game about medical melodrama shows and magic. Make up magical cures for weird magical diseases! Get addicted to weird magical drugs! We also talk about outlining larger projects, Red Markets updates, and Upwind: Three Beasts. Song: Witch Doctor by Erthling

Cool villains are hard to pull off in RPGs, mainly because players tend to kill them as soon as possible. Aron, Tom, and I got together to talk about how to make villains more memorable in games. Perhaps they can’t be killed easily or come back after death (thanks raise dead spells!) or killing them won’t stop the plan. I also talk about some ideas for future Base Raiders projects! Shout Outs Advanced Death Saves: A comic anthology themed around tabletop RPGs. Spinnortality: A cyberpunk corporation simulator. Buy the planet. Night in the Woods: A brilliant game about life, friendship, and existential dread. Great soundtrack too! The Messenger: A retro homage to Ninja Gaiden. Behind the Curve: A Netflix documentary about the Flat Earth movement. Music: Boss Fight, Title, and End from Night in the Woods OST Volume 3