Fine Blueprints

Today, Justin and Ian are joined by Briar Sovereign to talk about their game, The Brightest Things We Know, a Destiny- and Warframe-inspired forged in the dark game. We also talk about making a forged in the dark game from a blank slate, cutting mechanics, and pulling inspiration from established games. We also talk about bringing the game to a new power level and tone-balancing.

You can find Briar Sovereign on twitter @weregazelle.

Check out The Brightest Things We Know on itch.io at weregazelle.itch.io/the-brightest-things-we-know.

Our new intro is curtsey of Cohan. Thanks a lot!

Today, Justin and Ray are joined by Pammu to talk about Gameable Lore, as well as some of her past and future FitD projects, including a Philippines-inspired Dagger Isles supplement. She also talks about the Filipino RPG scene and the struggles of decolonizing game design. We also define gameable lore and microsettings, with examples of how they are expressed in Blades, and how Pammu uses it in her own work, as well as how you can introduce it into yours!

You can follow Pammu on twitter @TheDovetailor, and find her games on itch at thedovetailor.itch.io.

In this episode, Justin interviews ME, your editor, Jacob, about my game Asphalt & Trouble, a game of biker gangs in a corporate-fueled climate apocalypse! We talk about difference between complications and consequences, and the adjustments Asphalt & Trouble makes to the core FitD list of consequences, including a revamp of Harm, and the new Slights and Grudges system. We talk about all the sources of trouble that players find themselves in, from Devil's Bargains to Entanglements, and how customizing those define the tone of your game.

You can find Asphalt and Trouble at jacobalso.itch.io/asphalt-and-trouble, and you can find me at @JacobAlso on twitter. You can find Justin at @MothLands.

You can also watch me GM my custom crewbook for Blades in the Dark, the Drowners, on the Hacked in the Dark YouTube page at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7V0TnXlMfvjASLkY1JTub0G0DPg-dEU!

In this special episode, Ray interviews a few designers submitting Forged in the Dark games to Zinequest 3, a Kickstarter program to promote small (zine) ttrpg games and modules. All of these games are kickstarting now, and some are ending soon, so check them out now!

Ema (@Spookymeal) talks about her game of childhood dreamscapes, Crescent Moon at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spookymeal/crescentmoon. 

Laurie (@Laurie_eee) talks about his game of trans people becoming liches to get healthcare, Lichcraft at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/laurieoconnel/lichcraft-an-rpg-about-trans-necromancers.

Tom (@TomMecredy) talks about his solo journaling game of reflections in war, High Speed Low Drag at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tommecredy/stay-frosty.

Eli (@ZapDynamic) talks about his collaboration with others from the discord about paranormal investigations, External Containment Bureau  at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythicgazetteer/external-containment-bureau-a-zine-quest-rpg.

There are a ton of awesome games, including FitD games, that are kickstarting for Zinequest, so check out Kickstarter for more!

In this unique and instructive episode, we talk with Ray and Vince from Mythopoeia about how, as a game designer, to work with artists, including how and when to approach them, how to budget for art, what to do if you have a small or unsure budget, and more. We also talk about Mythopoeia's comic production background, and some of the overlap between skills.

You can find out more about Mythopoeia at www.mythopoeia.us, and you can find their games at mythopoeia.itch.io.

Today, Justin is joined by a new cohost, Drake, to discuss Vergence with the author David. We talk about the vast, even infinite scope of the interdimensional setting of Vergence, and how he keeps the story rooted and human. We also discuss how to consider what mechanics to keep and what to toss from the core Forged in the Dark rules in order to match a dramatically different setting from Doskvol.

This episode was recorded while our actual play series of Vergence was still running. You can watch the series, starring David and Drake here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7V0TnXlMfvoSs1Z6YxARRr7H1C6S4f6

You can get Vergence at smallcoolgames.itch.io

You can find the cast on twitter:
Justin @MothLands
Drake @DrakeandDice
David @SmallCoolGames1

Today, Justin and Ray are joined by Dan and Kali of Gem Room Games (@GemRoomGames) to talk about Subway Runners and online generated content. We talk about designing a one-shot version of FitD, and how they used the customizable online random generator, Perchance, to make their game fresh and easy. We also discuss embracing the chaos, and we generate some characters and adventures live!

You can find Subway Runners and Gem Room Games' other games at gemroomgames.itch.io, or if you caught the itch.io Bundle for Racial Equality.

If you make any character generators of your own, let us know!

Following the highly successful Unusual Suspects Playbook Jam on itch.io, Justin and Jacob attempted something new: a live, call-in episode of the podcast with you the fans as the guests, talking about your own and your favorite playbooks! After some delay, to give your wallets a rest after all the Kickstarters lately, we're uploading the edited audio of that stream!

Since this was done live, it's a bit rougher than our usual episodes, but also more casual and friendly.

You can read all the playbooks we discuss on the Jam page here: https://itch.io/jam/unusual-suspects-a-playbook-jam

You can find the video archive of our stream on our youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/HackedintheDark

The episode was streamed on our twitch page. Follow and stay tuned for future chats, hangouts, and gameplay: https://www.twitch.tv/hackedinthedark

Follow Justin @Mothlands on twitter and Jacob @Jacobalso.

Today, Mikey joins Justin and Mark to talk about his game Slugblaster, kickstarting now! We explore themes of popularity and teenage rebellion, and how to branch away from the typical grim and gritty tones of Blades in the Dark. We also talk about some more ideas for light-hearted games for you to make!

You can check out the Slugblaster kickstarter here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikeyhamm/slugblaster

On twitter:
Mikey @mikeymaybe
Justin @MothLands
Mark @Savemejebu5

You can catch Mark on our current actual play series, Fistful of Darkness on our Youtube page: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRlX18AE2f1Sp3hBBexJ0w

Today, Justin is joined by Felix to talk about The Wildsea, a fantasy game set on a world with overflowing vegetation. We talk about the games, media, and actual play series that made him want to write a game, and what it's like having an indie publisher publish your first game.

The Wildsea kickstarter is ending soon! Check it out here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythopoeia/the-wildsea
For more info on The Wildsea, check out their website: thewildsea.co.uk

Twitter:
Felix @isaacs_felix
Justin @Mothlands

Listen to an actual play series going on now of The Wildsea here: dfytpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-wildsea-the-star-serpent-part-1