Midnight Express

Adrian is joined by Hugh Angseesing of Black Chantry Productions to chat about Vampire: the Eternal Struggle Fifth Edition.  An overview of the game is provided, including strategies and deck types, as well as the features that differentiate V:tES from other CCGs. Finally, Hugh answers questions about the alignment between V:tES and Vampire: the Masquerade Fifth Edition, what this means for existing players, and how the game aims to be more inclusive and representative.  We finish off with some of our favourite flavour text from the game.

I've linked out to Black Chantry Productions, the Print-on-Demand Card Service, Andi Lui (Prince of Taipei), and the V:TES Fifth Edition Starter as mentioned in the episode.

Since recording, Black Chantry have uploaded the new V:tES rulebook for free download.

Host: Adrian BK

Vault Comics produces the new Vampire: the Masquerade comic series 'Winter's Teeth', and long-time comic fans BK and Wendell are lured into their embrace.  Each issue contains two stories, one focused on the Camarilla domain of the Twin Cities; the other is 'The Anarch Tales' following a small 'family' of nomadic kindred.

We discuss impressions of the art, story direction, and the inclusion of game content in each issue.  Furthermore, BK and Wendell chat about how they'd use aspects of the comic in a chronicle.

At time of release, you can purchase Issue 1, Issue 2, and Issue 3 from our friends at Drivethrurpg, or - like BK - check it out at you friendly local comic store.

The full range of Moonstone comics are available in .pdf and Print-On-Demand, as mentioned in the episode.

Wendell gave  shout-out to The Story Told Podcast; and Adrian mentioned Vampire: the Wild West, and Kaboom Comics & Collectibles.

 

Hosts: BK and Wendell

Do you want to hear a ghost story? 

Guildbook Haunters offers plenty of ways to bring the Quick and the Dead closer; BK and Rose dissect the Guild's nefarious but unifying goal for reality.  From the various ideological camps, to their relationships with other Guilds, and the refreshing counter-narrative of Charon's ascension this episode is definitely not Hierarchy-content-approved.  

Thought for the episode: you can never have too many pawns.

We mentioned the Ghost Hunters Kickstarter, the Shadowlands website, and of course you can purchase Guildbook: Haunters with our affiliate link. 

Join Wendell and BK next episode for more Vampire: the Masquerade.

Hosts: BK and Rose

The backing music for this episode is Terre Brute | One Hour Dark Ambient Post Apocalyptic, by z3r0, available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.

Rose and BK continue howling at the moon with an episode on chronicle design for Werewolf: the Apocalypse.  In the tradition of Episode 42: Designing a Changeling Chronicle, the duo build story ideas, and then flesh out some NPCs.  Rose shares her Five NPC Archetypes as a catalyst to both character and story design.

Join us next week for our Halloween episode. (Hint: it's more Wraith content, of course!)

Hosts: BK and Rose

Starting with a Werewolf inspired topic of stargazing, Rose and BK discuss trust in online games, and then move into a review of 'Rite of Passage'.  Stick around after the credits for bonus content geared more toward the Storyteller.

The books mentioned in this episode were:

Werewolf: the Apocalypse First Edition 

Rite of Passage 

Rage Across New York

Werewolf Chronicles Volume 1

Book of the Wyrm Second Edition 

Werewolf Storyteller's Handbook

Angel of Mercy (for Mage: the Ascension) 

Montreal by Night, [Black Dog Games Studio] and 

Dark Alliance: Vancouver

See you for the next episode where Rose and BK construct a Werewolf chronicle.

Hosts: BK and Rose.

Ideas are edition-agnostic, so BK and Wendell pillage Vampire Fifth Edition for concepts and strategies that can improve game-play and communication at the table.  From V5, we borrow Convictions, Ambition & Desire, Chronicle Tenets, and Coterie Types to offer new perspectives on character and story creation.

If you've ported ideas between editions, drop the crew a line at [email protected], or comment on one of the Facebook posts.  We always enjoy hearing from the listeners, and usually pick up great examples of play too.

The books from this episode are:

Vampire Fifth Edition, and

Winter's Teeth #1 by Vault Comics

You can support the show by 

purchasing any books using the affiliate links in the show notes;

checking out our titles in the Storytellers Vault;

leaving a review (we'll read it on air); and 

recommend us to a friend.

Every little bit helps, and thanks for choosing to spend some time on board the Midnight Express.

Hosts: BK and Wendell.

Awaken to a new world of magick and mystery!  Rose and BK peruse the 26th Mage: the Ascension book, to take your chronicle 'back to basics' and explore the potential of apprentice chronicles.

'Initiates of the Art' features discussions about creating the weirdness necessary for an Awakening, the trials of being an Initiate, and some sympathy for Marauders.  There is plenty of Storyteller advice and character ideas. 

The books mentioned in this episode (use the links below if you're purchasing and support the show):

Tales of Magick: Dark Adventure

The Spirit Ways

Guide to the Technocracy

Book of Chantries

Orphan's Survival Guide, and 

Killing Streets

See you next episode! 

Hosts: BK and Rose

Great Scott! Wendell leads BK on a trip into Hollow Earth Expedition (HEX) in the latest 'You might also like...' episode.  The intrepid explorers discuss the roots of the pulp genre, the genre conventions as set out in HEX, and cover the organisations and adversaries encountered in the game.  Along the way, they pitch ideas for stories, and wrap up with some ideal viewing to get you in the pulp mood.

Remember folks, guns don't kill dinosaurs, people kill dinosaurs.  

Links from the show:

Hollow Earth Expeditions Core Book

Secrets of the Surface World 

Mysteries of the Hollow Earth 

Revelations of Mars

Join us next time as we return to the World of Darkness.

Hosts: BK and Wendell.

Our Iron Lanterns are hung from the shop door - we're open for business with another episode; this time illuminating the hidden lore of the Pardoners Guild in Wraith: the Oblivion.  At first we tackle the seeming setting inconsistency of Guild legality and legitimacy in post-Breaking Stygian society, and offer advice for players and Storytellers who grapple with this part of the lore.

Rose and BK poke their lanterns into every corner of the book, discussing the cult-like nature of the Guild, the role of quasi-religious foundations implied by the Guild, and how to use the many plot hooks presented in these pages.  BK may also become a little too attached to the Angst Battery - one of the Pardoners' greatest secrets.

Stay tuned for our next episode, take some time to leave a review, and drop by our Storyteller's Vault products to support the show. Using the affiliate links for books mentioned during this episode also helps out the podcast, namely:

Guildbook Pardoners and Puppeteers

Into the Labyrinth: Doomslayers

Dark Reflections: Spectres

Sea of Shadows

Ends of Empire

Hosts: BK and Rose

Extending their trip into the Tempest (why not?), BK and Rose start with a round-up of additional lore relevant to Part One, including Legendary Plasmics (and how to forge their flesh), Instant Nihils, and the flesh-crawling plasmic ammunition for Maggot Revolvers.

Once BK has scrubbed these images from his mind, the duo delve into Harrowings.  Plenty of foundational information, examples, and practical tips are given for Storytellers who might feel this is a daunting part of the Wraith experience.  Finally, they cover the Appendix by constructing some chronicle ideas from the artifacts and relics presented therein.

As always, Rose reads a few of our reviews to conclude the show.

Please drop by iTunes (or your location of choice) and leave a review.  Drop by our Storyteller Vault titles (including a few for Wraith).  You can also support the show by using the affiliate links below when you pick up any of the books mentioned in this episode:

Sea of Shadows

Dark Reflections: Spectres

Buried Secrets

Into the Labyrinth

Until next time! More Wraith content is incoming, as is an episode of Storyteller advice, and some additions to the 'You might also like...' series.

Hosts: BK and Rose