Plot Points

Ben, Brad, and Sarah tackle Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of this week. Brad does a deep dive on how Modiphius's 2D20 system works in the world of Conan, and Ben frowns hard at an adventure that makes a better short story than RPG. 

Interested in Ben's book on RPG theory? Back us on Patreon at the $2 level to get the current draft, but act now! He's sending the book out to publishers, and if he gets a hit, he'll have to take it down!

Hear more about Conan on Episode 11, "The Tower of the Serpent."

Hear about Modiphius and the 2D20 system in Episode 96, "Star Trek Adventures." 

Let others know about Plot Points to help the ‘pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. 

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

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Images courtesy Modiphius Entertainment.

Did you know DC Comics used to make Dungones & Dragons comics? And that they stopped because TSR went into competition with them?

We explore that story in an excerpt from Ben's book this week on Plot Points!

Let others know about Plot Points to help the 'pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. Not a Patreon supporter yet? See what goodness we have in store for you by backing the 'pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Image courtesy DC Comics.

After complaints from pulpit, press, and angry mothers, TSR took demons and devils out of Dungeons & Dragons. Or did they? Soon, D&D supplements were describing "fiends" who lived in the Nine Hells and the Abyss... And aren't they prominent parts of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes? Enjoy the second part of this deep dive on demons and devils in the world's most popular role-playing game. 

Haven't heard Part 1 yet? Check it out here! 

New to Plot Points? Check out a few similar narrative episodes. For example, this one on the Satanic panic, this one about how the open gaming license freed D&D, or this one about New York Times bestselling author, Patrick Rothfuss.

Here's Ben on NPR talking about game as mythology. 

Let others know about Plot Points to help the 'pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. Not a Patreon supporter yet? See what goodness we have in store for you by backing the 'pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of Incompetech, Kevin Macleod,  and 50 Breaks! 

All images courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Demons & devils are some of the fiercest foes in Dungeons & Dragons, but did you know there was a time when they were cut out of the game due to complaints? The Plot Points gang of Ben Riggs, Sarah Babe, and Brad Davies takes a deep delve into the history of demons and devils in the world's most popular role-playing game!

New to Plot Points? Check out a few similar narrative episodes. For example, this one on the Satanic panic, this one about how the open gaming license freed D&D, or this one about New York Times bestselling author, Patrick Rothfuss.

Let others know about Plot Points to help the 'pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. Not a Patreon supporter yet? See what goodness we have in store for you by backing the 'pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of Incompotech and Kevin Macleod, David Hillowitz, ThrillShowX, and 50 Breaks! 

All images courtesy Wizards of the Coast.

Blades in the Dark is the RPG of broken people breaking and entering in a fog-shrouded steampunk city infested with ghosts. The Plot Points gang breaks down what makes it one of the best new games of 2017, and why it is revolutionary and influential.

In further good news, thanks to YOU, we have met our funding goal of $110 per episode! (Thanks to Patreon-backer Sarah Lynn Ross who nosed us over the top!) In return, we will be doing an actual play podcast using the Basic D&D ruleset. 

Let others know about Plot Points to help the 'pod grow! Review us on iTunes to help others find us. Not a Patreon supporter yet? See what goodness we have in store for you by backing the 'pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks! 

Check out John Harper's one-page RPG, Lasers and Feelings here!

Images courtesy Evil Hat Productions

This week, the Plot Points crew lets YOU decide what we talk about! Sarah, Brad, & Ben chew over our favorite wrestler, books we would recommend, and read aloud some listener mail!

Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play podcast. The current idea is to play 1st edition D&D, which might prove to be audio gold. Back the ‘pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks! 

Image below is from Weird Tales and is in the public domain.

Other image, the Ellis Linking Sigil, courtesy of Chloé Sophia Lamontagne via a Creative Commons 3.0 Unported License.  

Epyllion, the role-playing game that lets you take wing as a dragon! Brad, Sarah, and Ben discuss its influences, play, and friendship gem economy. Yes, you read that right. The game has a friendship gem economy!

Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play podcast. The current idea is to play 1st edition D&D, which might prove to be audio gold. Back the ‘pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks! 

Other music courtesy of Purple Planet.

Images courtesy of Magpie Games.

The gang sits down to listen to Ben talking about the role-playing game he's writing tentatively entitled Wands Against the Apocalypse. It is a game of modern magic where only YOU and your friends can kill the most dangerous mage in the world, Irena Katastrofa. Unfortunately, Katastrofa also knows that only you can destroy her, and she will do everything she can to kill you before you kill her. 

Tomorrow is Gen Con event registration! Click here to preregister for Plot Points live! Ben is also doing seminars entitled "Why Did TSR Fail?", and "Good to Be a Geek: How being a geek makes you happier, healthier, smarter, and wealthier". Ben is also running a seminar on his theory of RPGs, "Encounters 101."  

Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play, patrons choice! Back the ‘pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Find us on Twitter @PlotPointsPod!

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks! 

The image below is in the public domain.

The Plot Points gang discusses Hot Springs Island, a suite of two books that are an old-school hex-crawl for the 21st century. One of the books is a world-class player handout containing drawings, maps, and accounts from previous adventurers who have survived Hot Springs Island. The other book is The Dark of Hot Springs Island, a system neutral GM book explaining all the little secrets the authors have prepared for players to explore. 

Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we’ll do another actual play, patrons choice! Back the ‘pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Images courtesy Swordfish Islands.

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks and Purple Planet Music.

Ben went to GaryCon and through the audio magic of the internet, now YOU are there too! He speaks with Jeffrey Talanian of North Wind Adventures about Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea, Lucus Palosaari of Fat Goblin Games, Daniel Fisher of InnRoads Ministries, and Ken Spencer of Why Not Games.

Like what we do? Let us know by backing us on Patreon! If we reach $110 per episode by May 31st, we'll do another actual play, patrons choice! Back the 'pod here!

To let us know what you think about this episode, email us at [email protected]!

Image courtesy North Wind Adventures.

Audio courtesy of 50 Breaks and Purple Planet Music.