Avsnitt
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In this tailor-made episode, we discuss the advantages and challenges of using and writing pre-generated character sheets. Is there a sweet spot of player choice? And what are the risks of telling players exactly who they are and how they should feel?
Freya watches for waspmen. Violet horseshoes around. Freya posits a post-it plan. Violet digs up a classic Indie game.
As a bonus, we also have a themed mini-debrief of the 2025 UK Games Expo. And that theme is? Themes.
As a double bonus, we introduce a new segment: “game ideas that it turns out somebody else has already done which is great because it means it already exists in the world”!
As a triple bonus, the Journeymon Kickstarter prelaunch page and free quickstart adventure went live while we were editing this episode! Check them out here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ilgingell/journeymon-monster-trainer-roleplaying/
Timestamps
UGKE discussion - basically from the start
GITITOSEHADWIGBIMIAEITW - about 19:40
Mailbag - about 25:44
Intro & design Qs - about 30:53
History - 1:02:06
Taxonomicon - 1:11:45
Design Dreams - 1:40:00
Wrap up - 2:02:13
TTRPGs discussed
The Vanilla Game
Keep on the Borderlands
OSR in general
D&D (4e, 5e)
Psychodungeon
Voidheart Symphony
Subway Runners
iHunt
Call of Cthulhu
Changeling: the Lost
Tales of the Kytin Age *
Sagas of the Icelanders
For the Honor
Animon Story
Journeymon
Mappa Mundi
SPEEDRUN RPG
Pathfinder 1e
Biosphere Guardians 2050
Trickster’s Net
Rifts
Aberrant
Shadowrun
Savage Worlds
PbtA
Lady Blackbird
Monsterhearts
Dream Askew
World of Darkness (in general)
AD&D
The Adventures of Indiana Jones
Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast
Mistborn Adventure Game
The Exes of Casey Estrada
Last Day at Honkwarts
Genesys
Black Code
Pirate Borg
Edge of the Empire
Armour Astir
Stealing the Throne
Interstitial: Our Hearts Entwined
Mothership
Daggerheart
Other games and things discussed
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
Shadows of the Apt **
https://www.tumblr.com/haveyouplayedthisttrpg
Fullmetal Alchemist
Crescent Moon (board game)
Battlestar Galactica (board game)
The Commedia dell’arte
Lord of the Rings: the Third Age
“I Finished A Videogame”’s LotR adaptations retrospective ***
Escaflowne
Wheel of Time
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Dark Souls
Nier Automata
Root
https://www.youtube.com/@Hollandspiele
Original Podcast Do Not Steal ****
Notes
* as promised in the audio, the artist for this game is Yasen Stoilov https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:37fsd5g3kwmkmi5dvs2yxsgj
** yes, I must mention this every single episode
*** not merely four hours - it’s actually five. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/poMnJKLGYo0?si=ynx0cQu_43vamIZE
**** the bugworld guest episode is not yet up! They must have a mighty buffer. https://open.spotify.com/show/4a3x2GlQw0jsSk4vFTdpus
Violet’s oft-referenced LARP design handbook is “LARP Design: Creating Role-play Experiences”, available from the authors at https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/136330/978-952-03-2260-1.pdf
The Hungarian for “thank you” is “Köszönöm”.
Contact us!
Additional credits
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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In this all-out episode, we discuss dual wielding and various other kinds of multiplicative modes of attack. How can frequency-focused fighting styles make different characters feel different? And how can you balance attack and defense mechanics so that “just attack more” isn’t the only answer?
Violet trades a strike in the hand for two in the bush. Freya studies the studs. Violet decides Drizzt is a decent dude. Freya accidentally designs a videogame (again).
Timestamps
Mailbag - 8:29
Intro to the topic - 11:08
History - 26:23
Taxonomicon - 33:15
Design Dreams - 59:21
TTRPGs discussed
Band of Blades
Blades in the Dark
Exalted (various editions) & Exalted Essence
PbtA (in general)
D&D (various editions)
Lancer
Cosmere RPG
Empire of the Petal Throne
Runequest
Pathfinder
OSR (in general)
Dark Heresy
Old World of Darkness
Vampire: the (various things)
One Roll System (Reign, Monsters and Other Childish Things, etc)
Genesys
Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy
Tiles and Truenames*
Last Days at Honkwarts*
Other games and things discussed
Blue Prince
Gone Home
Animal Well
Link’s Crossbow Training
XCOM
Knights of the Old Republic 2
Battletech
Bushido
Knights of the Old Republic… 1!
Total War
Warhammer 40k
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
The concept of LARPing
Absolver
Combo Fighter
Yomi
Final Fantasy XIII
Signs of the Sojourner
Megaman: Battle Network
Cobalt Core
Paperback Adventures
Notes
*Dear listeners, allow us the brief indulgence of talking about our own games during the wrapup.
Some illustrated sources re the question of historic “studded leather armour”:
https://www.quora.com/Was-the-studded-leather-armour-used-in-D-D-ever-used-in-real-historical-combat-situations-If-so-was-it-useful
https://youtu.be/hmm_2GRa-o8?t=230
Pathfinder 2e does not use base attack bonus! It rolls the concept of weapon skill into its general tiered proficiency system, which applies the same rules to attacks, skills, saves, spellcasting, and probably several other things.
The referenced clown college gag on Tumblr is apparently from 2016 and the original poster has deactivated, but it lives on in our hearts and our reblog chains, e.g. https://sunbeamstarship.tumblr.com/post/656273434937016320/new-clown-in-town-juzavoices-im-in
Convention alert!
Freya will be at UK Games Expo in Birmingham on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June. She will be wearing a white Journeymon promo t-shirt on at least one and possibly both of those days. Say hi if you see her!
Contact us!
Additional credits
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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In this unconventionally conventional episode, Violet talks about a recent event in Edinburgh.
Violet has to hand it to handouts. Freya learns about a Thing or two. Violet takes the wrong notes. Freya is unexpectedly out-gayed.
Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email [email protected]
Timestamps
Start of Con Discussion: 3:07
Liminal Horror: 9:27
Delta Green: 21:22
Kaleidoscope: 26:41
The Family: 34:41
Games discussed
Liminal Horror
Delta Green
Kaleidoscope
The Family
Black Hack (and OSR in general)
Monsterhearts
Microscope
Belonging Outside Belonging / Dream Askew / Dream Apart / No Dice No Masters
Wanderhome
Chuubo’s Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine
Mörk Borg
Avatar Legends
Masks
Games that aren't TTRPGs that we nonetheless discussed, sometimes at surprising length
Dead Rising
Battlestar Galactica (the board game)
Betrayal at the House on the Hill
Mario Party
Immortality (confirmed, this is on Netflix)
The Executive
Lost Odyssey
Notes & links
Itch page for the designer of the Family https://clevercrumbish.itch.io/
Weird Hope Engines: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/events/2025/3/weird-hope-engines
Video essay about Lost Odyssey - https://youtu.be/iqgSDClU4Qo?si=M1vnb3gixwhaz8zM
Additional Credits
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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In this level-appropriate episode, we discuss encounter design through the lens of totally objective ratings of enemies’ power levels. Yes, we do mention Dragonball Z - but somehow entirely refrain from any “over 9000” jokes.
Violet shares tips on tipping points. Freya mopes about mopping up. Violet hates on Fate. Freya insists she liked D&D 4e all along.
Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - if you have any thoughts, comments, or questions please email us at: [email protected]
Timestamps
Mailbag - 9:00
Intro to the topic - 11:18
Design questions - 19:40
History - 35:40
Taxonomicon - 47:45
Design dreams - 1:03:15
Games discussed
Star Trek Adventures
Last Days at Honkwarts*
The Great Dalmuti
Master and Apprentice*
Pathfinder
Fate
D&D
Dark Heresy
Capers
D&D 4E specifically
Vampire: the Masquerade
Lancer (like, a lot)
13th Age
Battletech (it’s back!)
Grimwild
Genesys
Time of Monsters
Vaesen
Mothership
*These are games designed by Violet herself. She apparently forgot to even mention the name of the second one :-P
Notes
It turns out that Freya’s graphics card has become eight years old since she last checked, so she’s definitely not going to play Monster Hunter Wilds, alas.
The nineteen-year-old Order of the Stick comic that Freya recalls with only moderate accuracy is https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html
Additional credits
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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In this first ever bonus episode, Freya reflects on the games she played at Contingency 2025 - a TTRPG convention on the wintry Norfolk coast. We discuss a pair of very yellow games, ruminate upon “A+B” dice mechanics, and analyse the comedy-to-therapy spectrum.
Timestamps
CBR+PNK - 2:02
Yellow King RPG (sort of) - 9:16
Confectioners vs Cromwell (using GM’s own system) - 16:56
Never Stop Exploding - 21:47
Troika! - 26:29
Star Trek Adventures (1E) - 30:40
JourneyMon - 39:21
Tool Team - 39:50
DIE - 41:57
One Ring (2E) - 1:02:29
Notes and links
The extremely long Lord of the Rings video Freya mentioned: https://youtu.be/poMnJKLGYo0?si=hQO5mbdDtRnAjKOu
The Meguey Baker article we discussed: https://lumpley.games/2021/12/30/ritual-in-game-design/
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In this camaraderie-ridden episode, we’re talking about mechanics for helping other characters in joint efforts. We discuss how teamwork can double the risks, double the rewards, and hopefully say something about the nature of your characters’ relationships in the process.
Violet uses "Stanford prison experiment" as a verb. Freya farms friends. Violet turns over an old leaf. Freya tears and shares.
Our thanks to Charlie, Joey, and Amber for writing in! If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email [email protected].
Timestamps
Mailbag - 5:35
Intro & history of helping - 14:34
Design questions - 24:33
Example deep dives - 32:57
Gradual slip into design dreams - 51:11
Games discussed in this episode
(In order of first mention)
Daggerheart
Sar-Stan
Tiles and Truenames
What’s In Your Mouth?!
Super Saviour Squad
The Token Bag Game Jam in general
Armour Astir
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Mystery homebrew system by Joey Jones
Ars Magica
Dogs in the Vineyard
DOGS [*1]
City of Winter
Death of a Hero [*2]
Masks
Golden Sky Stories
Empire of the Petal Throne
D&D
Tunnels and Trolls
Traveller
Apocalypse World
Monsterhearts
Blades in the Dark
Genesys
Edge of the Empire
Vampire: the Masquerade
JourneyMon
Interstitial: Our Hearts Intertwined
Vaesen
Heart
Notes and links
Two of the more esoteric entries on the above list can be found here:
[*1] https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/274623/dogs
[*2] https://babblegumsam.itch.io/death-of-a-hero
The two UK TTRPG conventions mentioned are
- http://www.con-tingency.uk/
- https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/
Submissions to the Token Bag game jam can be found here: https://itch.io/jam/token-bag/entries
Its follow-up - the New Year, Old Ideas game jam - has indeed already ended. Submissions can be found at https://itch.io/jam/new-year-old-ideas-jam/entries
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Just a brief update on the podcast, which is going on a brief hiatus due to various personal issues.
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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In this nominally spooky episode, we’re talking about DEATH. Who decides when a hero falls - is it the whims of the dice, the demands of the narrative, or a knife-edge entente between the two?
Violet calculates the exact value of her friends’ lives. Freya uses a stake to take a break.
Violet brings a gun to a dice fight. Freya gets knocked down, but gets back up again.
Our thanks to the listeners who mailed in with comments on last week’s topic, Initiative - if you have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email [email protected]!
Games discussed in this episode:
Call of Cthulhu
Wanderhome
OD&D
Traveller
Vampire: the Masquerade
Dogs in the Vineyard
Apocalypse World / Powered by the Apocalypse
Monsterhearts
Vaesen
Dread
Ten Candles*
Mothership
Delta Green
Paranoia
Phoenix: Dawn Command
Blades in the Dark
Pathfinder (1e)
Edge of the Empire / Genesys
Cosmere RPG
Armour Astir
Daggerheart
Wildsea
Old School Essentials
Heart
Legacy: Life Among the Ruins
Pendragon
Mummy: the Curse
Rogue Trader
Arkham Horror
Aeon’s End
Star Wars Armada
Grandia
Battletech**
Forbidden Stars
Game of Thrones (the board game)
Gears of War
Control
Wildermyth
Rogue***
Magic: the Gathering
Notes:
* less spooky, but perhaps more manageable, than thirteen candles.
** the videogame by Harebrained Schemes, not the tabletop wargame, for once!
*** and its roguelike descendants.
1. Violet’s Bag Jam can be found at https://itch.io/jam/token-bag , running from Friday 1st to Saturday 23rd November 2024.
2. Shared Fantasy: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds, by Gary Alan Fine, was first published in 1983.
3. A helpful chart: https://xkcd.com/1890/
A disclaimer:
Freya is a volunteer playtester for both the Cosmere RPG and Daggerheart. She is not being paid in any way, and draws examples from their open beta material when relevant because they’re fresh in her mind!
Additional credits:
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Spooky halloween music by Divider Line (dividerline.bandcamp.com)
Sound effects by the BBC © copyright 2024 BBC (https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/search?q=07043402)
Editing, musical stings, and other sound effects by Violet Henderson
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How do you figure out who’s on first? And how do you balance the excitement of surprise against the satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan?
Violet advocates for inaction. Freya trusts in the heart of the cards. Violet reaches into her bag of tricks. Freya turns into a lighthouse.
Games discussed in this episode:
D&DTunnels & TrollsTravelerPhoenix: Dawn Command* Deadlands / Savage WorldsTroikaEdge of the Empire / GenesysVaesen / Mutant Year ZeroDaggerheart**Cosmere RPGMothership13th Age (briefly)Monsters & Other Childish Things / Reign / One Role SystemArkham HorrorBlood BowlBattletechFallingSpace AlertQuacks of QuedlinburgCobalt CoreTactical Breach WizardsNotes:
* I don’t know why this is the only game where I also named the author. No disrespect intended towards other designers! - F
** Speaking of which, and to answer a Q from the discussion: the lead designer is Spenser Starke; Mr Mercer is credited as creative advisor.
A disclaimer:
Freya is a volunteer playtester for both the Cosmere RPG and Daggerheart. She is not being paid in any way, and draws examples from their open beta material when relevant because they’re fresh in her mind!
Additional credits:
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Editing, musical stings, and other sound effects by Violet Henderson
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Welcome to the very first* episode of System Shop, the podcast where we deep dive into RPG design, one subsystem at a time.
Today, we’re talking about inventory systems: what’s the point of tracking all your bits and bobs, and can it actually be fun?
Violet can’t wait to talk about Ryuutama, and wants everyone to know it. Freya can’t stop talking about counting missiles (ancient and modern). Violet gleefully torments her players with maths homework. Freya has no idea how heavy 1lb is**. Blades in the Dark defies the Taxonomicon, for what will surely not be the last time.
Games discussed in this episode:
Dungeons and DragonsWorld of DarknessApocalypse World / PBTAPathfinderBlades in the DarkDogs in the Vineyard KnaveRyuutamaTroikaMausritterHeavy GearBlack HackShadow of MoggThey Do Not Stop, You Must Not FailMistborn (the 2011 TTRPG, not the upcoming one)WingspanBattletech (the tabletop wargame, not the excellent strategy videogame)Battlestar Galactica (the board game)Galaxy TruckerResident EvilDiabloMegaman: Battle Network 2 (Blue Version)Backpack HeroHalo: Combat EvolvedGoing UnderBreath of the WildGears of WarHomestuckNotes:
* Unless we become bold enough at a later date to release our secret Episode Zero!
** The D&D 5e Player’s Handbook says a longsword weighs 3lbs, in defiance of Wikipedia’s estimate of 4-6.6lbs. Either way, I was way out - F.
The “inciting blog post” discussed in this episode can be found at https://harbingergames.blogspot.com/2020/04/if-your-torches-burn-for-only-one-hour.html
Additional credits:
Our intro music is
"Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Editing, musical stings, and other sound effects by Violet Henderson
