Midnight Express

Protected only by reed boat and Ferryman's Oar, Rose and BK sail into the Tempest to explore the Shifting Zones, explain Wraith geography, and draw on their Field Guide to Spectres.  On the way, they attempt a Grand Unifying Cosmological Theory, linking Exalted, Mage, Changeling, and Werewolf together, look at where ideas go to die, and suggest some uses for the many denizens of the Tempest.  

Rose also dips into the listener reviews and reads some on air. If you've left a review, you'll hear it read (with our thanks) in a future episode.

The field trip was so exciting, it's been extended, so watch out for Part Two - coming to a Necropolis near you.

If you'd like to support the show, leave a review via iTunes, or pick up one of the books (with an affiliate link) mentioned in the show:

Sea of Shadows

Wraith First Edition 

Wraith Second Edition 

Blood-Dimmed Tides

Dark Reflections: Spectres

Dreams and Nightmares

Freeholds and Hidden Glens

Part Two (Episode 53) is on the way, as well as episodes covering chronicle design, storytelling advice, and more Readers' Companion content.

Hosts: BK and Rose

James and Jim act as out guides to The Midnight World, a new RPG Kickstarter that explores horror, deep story, and mental illness.  By explaining the games' origins, and personal connection to the main themes, our guests provide an overview that will be of interest to oWoD fans - whether as a complete game, inspiration for chronicles, or even to selectively import game concepts and rules.

Of particular interest will be the character creation cycle, and the discussion on the clock mechanic as a source of impending doom (and one a character can actively cause to tick faster). We also chat about making choices meaningful in stories, and James and Jim offer advice on running convention or FLGS games. 

If you like to know more, and support the Kickstarter, follow these links:

Twitter: @themidnightwor1 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themidnightwor1 

Youtube playtest: https://youtu.be/Sa7rfGAtc3M 

 

Join us soon for more Wraith: the Oblivion content, and a Storyteller advice episode! 

 

Hosts: BK, James, and Jim

Terry from Mage: the Podcast joins BK to discuss the Wu Keng from The Book of Crafts.  Girding themselves against the forbidden knowledge of Lord Ku of the Thousand Tears, the duo consider whether a group of unwitting Infernalists make for player-characters, and the types of chronicles possible with this Craft and their demonic patrons.

The episode begins with a chat about Terry's recent publication 'Ascension's Landscape' and some his decision-making around describing 'the world of darkness', and communicating it to players.  Economies of scale play a massive part in chronicles, and it's a topic that needs further exploration.

Support and the show and pick up your copies of 'The Book of Crafts' and 'Dragons of the East' via the embedded affiliate links.

 

ONE WEEK ONLY 

The special offer for this episode is 'Watch the World Burn' (for Mage: the Ascension) from the Storytellers Vault, now available on discount until 28/02/2020

Hosts: BK and Terry

Welcome back!  BK shakes the rust off and with friend-of-the-show Josh Heath (High Level Games) the podcast relaunch begins!

BK and Josh discuss the Storyteller's Vault initiative, sharing their experiences of generating ideas, writing, layout, and promotion, whilst proving the real world is far more bizarre than anything they can make up.

Make sure you check out Werewolf: the Podcast, Josh's works on the Vault, and his most recent 'Many Names of...' series (for Scion).

Drop by the Vault Facebook page for the community, and let us know what you're planning.

Early Access: The Memory of Trees (Coming Soon)

Midnight Express will listeners have early access to 'The Memory of Trees', our first Changeling: the Dreaming Vault title, with a 10% discount.  Check back here soon for the link and release news.

Discounted content: Victorian Age Vampire

Each show, we'll offer discounted titles to our listeners.  This time, the Victorian Age Vampire titles are 20% off (valid until February 14), so check out

'The Deviltry at Whittlock Manor', and 'The Iscariot Conspiracy'.

Hosts: Adrian BK, and Josh Heath.

Hey True Believers!  The Midnight Express crew (Rose & BK) are joined by Terry 'Hates On Lacrosse' (from Mage: the Podcast) to talk crossovers.  Yes we have another podcaster crossing over onto the episode on cross-overs (it's all very meta, and we're expecting both Renown and Paradox for this).  Failing to make Terry flee after facing the horror of 'The Question', we plunge into the main topic.

After establishing the types of crossovers and what players and STs can expect, we examine five 'myths' - labeling each of them 'Confirmed', 'Plausible', or 'Busted' whilst offering our own experience.

Stay tuned for the follow-up episode over at Mage: the Podcast. 

There were a lot of neat resources mentioned in the show from podcasts (Mage, Werewolf: the Podcast, and Walking Away From Arcadia), individual episodes (Episode 21: Dark alliance Vancouver, Dice Pool Podcast: Session 0, and Darling Roses' appearance on Mage), and resources (White Wolf Wikia, and Facebook Groups below).

Facebook Groups (note: these are Closed Groups, so you'll need to click on the 'Join' button)

Storyteller's Vault

Changeling the Dreaming/the Lost

Mage: the Ascension

White Wolf and Onyx Path RPGs and Media

(Old) Classic World of Darkness

Vampire: the Masquerade

Wraith the Oblivion/Geist the Sin Eaters

Werewolf the Apocalypse

It's a good time to be an oWoD fan.

Join us next month as the count-down to Episode 50 begins.

Hosts: BK, Rose, & Terry.

Rose and BK are summoned to the monthly Moot to howl at the moon, and review the Werewolf Storytellers Handbook First Edition.  Despite a tangent about Michael Kaluta's art (I couldn't locate his folio in electronic format, but here are his M20 Posters), they stay true to the path, discussing the use of the Hero's Journey, Auspice Journeys, evoking a sense of smell, Kami, and supporting anecdotes from their games to illustrate the guide in practice.

BK's Storyteller Vault titles can be found here.

The book spirits venerated in this episode can be summoned thusly:

Werewolf Storytellers Handbook (First Edition)

Kinfolk: Unsung Heroes

Possessed

Graceful, Wicked Masques

Drums around the Fire

and the Nunnehi are found in The Changeling Players Guide.

 

Join us next time for Episode 48, where anything could (and might very well) happen. 

Hosts: BK, and Rose.

In the first of an infrequent series, the Midnight Express Podcast delves into other RPGs, movies, and popular media that can inspire your oWoD games, or provide some variety at your table.  In the inaugural episode, the Swedish dark fantasy game 'Symbaroum' comes under the spotlight; BK and Wendell brave the horrors of old Symbar, stride into the darkness of Davokar and unearth the roots of the game.  They explore various aspects of the game from character creation, to game mechanics, and the importance of mood, theme, and story.

Wendell points to Origin: Spirits of the Past for further inspiration, BK can't pronounce Modiphius to save his life (he'll do better next time), and they both agree that art like this, this, and this are reasons enough to buy to game. 

The books mentioned in the podcast were:

Symbaroum RPG Core Book (English)

Advanced Players Guide (English)

Monster Codex (English)

See you next time as we return to the World of Darkness and explore another aspect of Storytelling.

Hosts: BK and Wendell_Burke

Music attribution:  Castle of Darkness, by Lisa Cohen and Lionel Schmitt, used under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

Wendell returns in this episode to revisit the foundation laid down in Episode 28 with BK.  Together, they discuss how existentialism is an integral part of the oWoD, particularly as it applies as a lens for understanding motivations behind fear, and character development.  The hosts draw on their own gaming experiences to illustrate the points, offering both a micro- and macro-view of chronicle design, and avenues for expanding the options in any given scene.

During the episode, Wendell mentioned Hollow Earth Expeditions, we pointed to the forthcoming Chicago By Night from Onyx Path, and BK briefly mentioned the Symbaroum RPG.

Join the Midnight Express Podcast for Episode 46, in which Wendell and BK launch the infrequent series 'You might also like...'.

Hosts: Wendell_Burke, and BK.

Welcoming in 2019, Episode 44 features another trip to the Cafe Car, this time with long-time host and contributor Darling Rose.  BK, and Rose talk about travel, using Street Maps as a tool for chronicle design, how RPGs can build a sense of empathy, and using Ravenloft as a gateway to Werewolf: the Apocalypse.  

Rose mentioned the Faerie Worlds event, we both spent time admiring the Changeling Journals at Redbubble, and pointed listeners to the Storytellers Vault (BK's titles can be found here).

Stay tuned for Episode 45, in which Wendell_Burke, and BK discuss existential threats and the oWoD.

Hosts: Rose, and BK.

Originally published as Mirage Arcana Episode 19 (back when Gogol Fangs-First was but a cub), this episode brings an interview with Teeuwynn Woodruff into the Midnight Express playlist.  Archived but accessible for some time, the episode enjoyed consistent downloads, so it's time to benefit from Teeuwynn's wisdom once more. She covers advice for running horror games, discusses her work at White Wolf, and praises Pokemon.

Join us for Episode 44, where BK and Rose discuss worldviews of the oWoD and running games in the latest Cafe Car.

Hosts: BK and Teeuwynn