Relatable Rolls

For some, the very idea of running a role playing game is an arduous journey, and that's even before getting friends around a table, rolling dice, keeping them engaged, and everything else. But fear not, Max and Claire cover the in's and out's of running an RPG with everything from preparing the game, how to handle first time players, to genre specific tips and tricks to make your first time session memorable for all, but in the good way. Then hear about some recent games our hosts have ran offline for first time players.

Spoiler warning for Delta Green: Convergence and Last Things Last in this episode.

Opening: Aldous Ichnite - Polygon Paradise

Now that the campaign has concluded, Max, Claire, Ethan, Robert, and Noah sit down to talk all things The Sense of the Slight-of-Hand Man. Learn why Max chose to transplant the game to MÖRK BORG, under-the-hood workings of some  Dreamland Mechanics, the routes of the game not taken, and everyone's favorite moments, and everyone trying to figure out what the title of the campaign even means.

Find Noah on Twitter and his podcast Thinking Too Hard About Anime
Check out Ethan's RPG Podcast The Adventurer's Vault on their website and Twitter
Everyone is also on BlueSky go find us there.

Opening: Chris Zabriskie - What Does Anybody Know About Anything

Max and Claire are joined by Ross Payton of Role Playing Public Radio, Night Clerk Radio, and Ludonarrative Dissidents to talk about The Night Clerk, a systemless architectural horror zine scenario being crowd funded on BackerKit. Hear the origin story of the scenario, the challenges of writing a scenario not tied to a RPG system, why Zines and architectural horror are having a moment, and why capitalism is to blame for all of this, among many other thrilling topics.
 

Check out The Night Clerk on Backerkit until September 28th!
Find Everything Ross does in one handy location at his Linktree

Max and Claire are on BlueSky, find them there and bug Claire to start a page for the podcast!

Intro: Kirk Osamayo - Late Night Study Session

Their final goal in sight, will the Dreamers escape back to reality in one piece, or does fate have something else in store for them?

Claire - Rootpicker, Putting Down Roots
Robert - Frederick Cohn and other noteworthy roles, Loyal Hound
Ethan - E.S. Walcott, Checked In
Noah - Richard Rouchard, Cosmic Voyager
Max - Teller of Tales

Find Noah on Twitter and his podcast Thinking Too Hard About Anime
Check out Ethan's RPG Podcast The Adventurer's Vault on their website and Twitter
Everyone is also on BlueSky go find us there.

Opening: Pablo Perez - Skin Wax

Not satisfied with the horror that you regularly find in episodes of Relatable Rolls, Max and Claire review Hope Is Not A Plan, a solo journaling game that covers the horror of being a project manager of an engineering firm. Will the project be delivered on time to expectations or will it all come crumbling down around them as Life intervenes? The Tumbling Block Tower Pulling Twosome also talk about the appeal of different kinds of horror, controlling the uncontrollable, and how Covid has affected Game Design.

Grab your own copy of Hope is Not a Plan here!


Opening: Kirk Osamayo - 80s Robo Man

After making it through the Underworld, the Dreamers arrive on the outskirts of the city of Ilek-Vad. The Twilight City of Turrets and Minarets is ruled by The King of Dusk. Can he shed light on the nature of the Dreamers predicament, or is he himself yet another pawn in some grand scheme?

Claire - Rootpicker, Cat Conversationalist
Robert - Frederick Cohn, God Smiter
Ethan - E.S. Walcott, Tower Toppler
Noah - Richard Rouchard, Suspicions Confirmed
Max - Teller of Tales

Find Noah on Twitter and his podcast Thinking Too Hard About Anime
Check out Ethan's RPG Podcast The Adventurer's Vault on their website and Twitter


Opening: Audiorezout - Atlantis in Flight

Escaping the Men from Leng in Lhosk, the Dreamers find themselves in The Underworld. Will they make it back to daylight or will they fall prey to the many horrors that dwell in the dark?

Cast:
Claire (Raven E Darkness Dementiaway) - Rootpicker, Dealmaker 
Robert - Frederick Francis Cohn,  In on the Bit
Ethan - E.S. Walcott, Of Many Faces
Noah - Richard Rouchard, Stair Guardian
Max - GM
 

Find Noah on Twitter and his podcast Thinking Too Hard About Anime
Check out Ethan's RPG Podcast The Adventurer's Vault on their website and Twitter


Intro: Audiorezout - Dark Tunnel

Happy Pride! Things get steamy as Claire and Max sit down to review Thirsty Sword Lesbians a narrative focused RPG about daring queers fighting injustice, growing as individuals, and finding love along the way. 

Get your own copy of Thirsty Sword Lesbians and free play material here!

Intro: Mid-Air Machine - Breathing Out 

The Dreamers finally reach the city of Lhosk, mercantile capital of the Cerenarian Sea. Will they find aid within the bustling city, or do the red tarpaulins of the Grand Bazaar conceal more than just the sun? 

Claire - Rootpicker, One with the roots
Robert - Frederick Cohn, Takes the first sip
Ethan - E.S. Walcott, Underdressed
Noah - Richard Rouchard, Unsteady Hands

Find Noah on Twitter and his podcast Thinking Too Hard About Anime
Check out Ethan's RPG Podcast The Adventurer's Vault on their website and Twitter

Claire and Max sit down with the designer of Session Zero, Meghan Cross on the background of the game, the importance of mechanics supporting the games you want to play, navigating the RPG space as a queer woman, turning shitposts into games, and other awesome projects in the works.

Follow Meghan on Twitter, get a hold of her via her carrd, check out her games on itch.io, and check out Siren Song Games for all of your narrative TTRPG needs.

Opening: Kirk Osamayo - New World