News: Check out the latest RPPR After Hours for an in-depth discussion on traps in fantasy RPGs!

Synopsis:Thad and I both recently played Control, a new video game about a secret government agency that tries to protect the world from supernatural forces while also trying to exploit that power for their own ends. Obviously, this is a riff on the SCP Foundation, but even that is part of a larger tradition of giant and usually evil (or at least corrupt) bureaucracies in horror games. Whether they are corporate or governmental, these bureaucracies wield as much power as an elder god and cannot be easily stopped or slain. We talk about how to subvert or change these tropes to make your next game or player character more interesting.

Thad is @ThaddeusStrange on Twitter and I am @rosspayton

Shout Outs

Songs: Selections from The Iron Triangle: Bureaucracy by The Great Wall

Three game designers discuss their current projects and answer audience questions at Gen Con 2019. Find out about the new edition of Blue Planet, the latest from Red Markets, and more!

Panelists:

Ross Payton

More Gen Con coverage continues with Jay B, Renee, and Aaron. We discuss escape rooms, Space Hulk, and a lot more!

Games Discussed below the fold

Song: ??? by ? ? Corp. & t e l e p a t h

We are back from Gen Con and we have a lot to talk about! In fact, we had so much to talk about it, I split the episode into 2 parts. Caleb, Maddy, special guest Sean Farris, and I talk about the games we played and bought and other highlights. In the second segment of this episode, Tom and Greg talk about their experiences.

Games we discuss (in no particular order, below the fold)

Song: 10 years of Vaporwave by EIS

I have attended every Gen Con since 2007 and it has become a very important part of my life. It led to the creation of RPPR, my career in RPG writing, and the start of many deep friendships. Without RPPR, I would have never met Maddy. I have no idea what my life would be without Gen Con, RPPR, and Maddy. Enjoy this very special RPPR Live!

News: The RPPR Patreon has a new milestone and if we reach it, we will create new RSS feeds for your favorite classic campaigns, like Know Evil. This will allow you to easily download them with your favorite podcasting app. Learn more details on our Patreon. We have an example RSS feed for the Final Revelation campaign.

Synopsis:Our campaign of Reign, Nagalisitu, is over. We got together to discuss the story, the game mechanics, and what we thought of the Hunting Pack’s journey. Find out where the title word comes from, our favorite moments, and a lot more!

Cast: Ross, Caleb, David, Jay B, and Aaron

Music: Game Over by Amerigo Gazaway

News: The RPPR Patreon has a new podcast, Questing for Answers! We’ve posted 2 episodes already and if you’re a patron, your questions can be answered in the next episode.

Synopsis: Origins has come and gone and Birk and I have a blast there. The Shadowrun 6th Edition Beginner Box was released there so we picked up some copies for review. Bridget, our resident Shadowrun GM, joins in to see what’s changed for the new edition. Birk and I discuss a new sci-fi horror RPG, Mothership, as well as the RPGs we played at Origins.

Check out The Mixed Six for additional Origins coverage

Don’t forget to follow Cry Novel on Twitter!

Song: Boxers Paradise (feat. ev?.?exi)  by Pad Chennington

Caleb is working on a new game! Called Doctor, Witch Doctor, it’s a fun storytelling game about medical melodrama shows and magic. Make up magical cures for weird magical diseases! Get addicted to weird magical drugs! We also talk about outlining larger projects, Red Markets updates, and Upwind: Three Beasts.

Song: Witch Doctor by Erthling

Cool villains are hard to pull off in RPGs, mainly because players tend to kill them as soon as possible. Aron, Tom, and I got together to talk about how to make villains more memorable in games. Perhaps they can’t be killed easily or come back after death (thanks raise dead spells!) or killing them won’t stop the plan. I also talk about some ideas for future Base Raiders projects!

Shout Outs

Music: Boss Fight, Title, and End from Night in the Woods OST Volume 3

Many RPG campaigns inevitably have at least one session that’s more about shopping for new items and gear. Some players love it and others hate it. How important are items and associated game mechanics for them? Caleb, Jay B, and I discuss the differing philosophies of items in various RPGs, from Phoenix Command’s detailed rules to Fiasco’s non-existent rules for items. We also discuss an upcoming gear book for Red Markets, plus shout outs and anecdotes.

News: Party Fowl is out! If you haven’t already got a copy of the best duck-themed social gathering board game of 2019, then get yours today! Also, I am going to Australia next month, but RPPR will still be going strong. I will be posting about my trip on Twitter and Instagram.

Shout Outs

Music: Automated Refrains by Dan Terminus