Gearing up for the 1st Hammer Horror playtest on Wednesday; some thoughts on pushing the system towards playability. Do leave messages via Anchor or email locoludus[at]gmail.com with your thoughts. Thanks Colin Green @ Spikepit!

Follow-up thoughts on ICRPG after my interview with Hank and in light of subsequent discussion and feedback. The focus is on the possible distinction between the ICRPG system and the ICRPG “mindset” as Hank calls it and on improvisation vs extensive preparation and rules light vs rules heavy. Big big thanks to Andy @ Expedition to the Grizzly Peaks for his message!!! Mention is also made to Josh Beckelhimer @ JB Publishing, Dave Aldridge @ Dpercentile and Che Webster @ Roleplay Rescue.

Barney and Emi discuss podcast plans and hopes for 2020. This includes the board games we have modification plans for. We share our first, mini, board game modification for Carcassonne. Towards the end we share our plans for our nearly-completed Brexit card game, Brex**it: Time Warp.

Interview with Hankerin Ferinale, the man behind Runehammer Games, about the evolution of Index Card RPG, its newest iteration - Altered State - and his forthcoming branching narrative book, Retune. And much more!

Barney shares his joy of play testing his RPG system with his children. Dr Ludus gets an official role on the show and offers therapeutic advice to two listeners. Interviews announced.

Aaaarrrgh! More debate on A.I. constraints and the Hammer Horror RPG project. First responders: Spencer Keep Off, Colin Green Spikepit and Jason, dear Jason Nerd’s Variety...

More on A.I. Constraints and how they might operate in the Hammer Horror games... Crunchy call-ins from Colin Green @ Spikepit RPG Podcast, Josh Beckelhimer @ JB Publishing podcast and Goblin’s Henchman...

Following on from last episode’s A.I. plug-in, an overview of the draft rules created for the Hammer Horror RPG game season. Jason Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast and Pete Dragons are Real podcast add to the discussion with call ins. Blade Runner mini episodes announced, as are more interviews.

This episode considers game "constraints" and proposes we distinguish between "constraints of limitation" and "constraints of possibility." With this in mind, I discuss an RPG plug-in I came up with back in October. The plug-in sets out a PC/NPC "A.I." constraint that also serves as an initiative mechanic. I discuss it now as I plan to use it in my Hammer Horror games in the new year and potentially in the Blade Runner game I'm developing. Feedback very welcome! email locoludus[at]gmail.com or leave an Anchor message. Here is the link to my A.I./Initiative plug-in: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Xv5BDfdvvSYtkMn_f9IXpk2rjhcTpnU/view?usp=sharing

There is also a short, exclusive interview!

I mention the latest episode of What Would the Smart Party Do? podcast "How to be a better player": https://www.whatwouldthesmartpartydo.com/

I also mention ICRPG: https://www.icrpg.com/ and Electric Bastionland: http://www.bastionland.com/