Gamer's Tavern Podcast

Gaming has always taken its cues from other fiction, as Dungeons &  Dragons itself comes from classic fantasy fiction. But what makes a game  an homage to another work of fiction? What parody games are fun to play  outside the joke? Where do you draw the line between influence and  homage?  

(Originally released January 9, 2016) 

Full show notes and current content available at http://gamerstavernshow.com

Dating back to the 1930s, Lankhmar may have the oldest pedigree as a  gaming setting of all time. Evolving from wargames and eventually  becoming a setting for Dungeons & Dragons, Runequest, and Savage  Worlds, Lankhmar is the prototype for urban roguish fantasy decades  before Waterdeep, Thieves World, or Freeport were a twinkle in their  creators’ eyes. Get ready for the original sandbox setting that’s more  relevant today than ever before, Lankhmar: The City of Thieves!  

(Originally released on January 21, 2016) 

Full show notes and current content available at http://gamerstavernshow.com  

We revisit the topic of superhero roleplaying games. The overlap between  Western comic book fans and tabletop gamers, it’s no surprise that  superhero games are one of the largest genres of roleplaying games out  there. We’ve talked about the different games in Episode 23, but how do  you play and run a superhero game? And what impact have the games had on  the industry at large?  

(Originally released on February 12, 2016) 

Full show notes and current content available at http://gamerstavernshow.com 

From Conan to Elric to Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser to Thieves’ World, the  stories of sword and sorcery fantasy have been seminal in defining  fantasy gaming. But what about the games based on those stories? What  makes the genre different than other types of fantasy gaming? What kind  of stories can you tell in the genre? This week, Richard Baker and John  Dunn join us to discuss exactly that.

(Originally released on February 22, 2016) 

Full show notes and current content available at http://gamerstavernshow.com 

 From Collectible Card Games to Deckbuilders to Living Card Games and  more. This week, we go over the different types of card games out there,  the history of the genre, and how Magic: The Gathering may have save  the industry.

Legendary game designer Mike Pondsmith joins us to talk about his  illustrious career in the gaming industry, from Mekton to Cyberpunk to  Teenagers from Outer Space and far, far more and how Mike managed to hit  every major pop culture trend before it made it big. Mecha, cyberpunk,  anime, steampunk, and more, Mike was there creating games just as the trend started.

(Originally released April 14, 2016)