News: Caleb’s Eclipse Phase scenario, the Devotees, is now out. Check it out!

Synopsis: Writing a new game is hard enough, but it’s only the beginning. Playtesting the game to see if it works is the second part. Seeing a group of players tear your precious game apart may be painful, but it is a necessary part of creating a better game. Caleb and I discuss our thoughts on Caleb’s recent playtesting of Red Markets.

News: Check out the Devotees, a new Eclipse Phase adventure written by Caleb Stokes! The first part of the actual play is up. We also have a new digital audio recorder for the APs, a Zoom H2N. Higher quality APs for everyone!  Also, I’m working on a new horror RPG called Ruin. BTW, have you checked out the video game I’m working on, Delver’s Drop?

Synopsis: During the last weekend, Tom and I got to play 2 games with some new players, including a 6 player Call of Cthulhu game. For this episode, we talk about our experiences playing with new players, especially in a large group. Tom also has a letter about his recent trip to New York, plus shout outs and anecdotes!

Shout Outs

Song: Road Trip by Within the Giant

Luke Crane (Burning Wheel, Mouse Guard, Torchbearer), Thor Olavsrud (Torchbearer) and Adam Koebel (Dungeon World) talk trash about boring (and offensive) ideas in fantasy RPGs while waxing poetic about OSR and indie RPGs. Drawing on over a decade of experience publishing fantasy RPGs, they promise to offend sensibilities and enlighten the curious to worlds undreamed. This panel was recorded at PAX East 2014.

Panelists: Luke Crane [Dungeon Master, Burning Wheel], Thor Olavsrud [Torchbearer, Barrow Wight], Adam Koebel [Kobold, Sage Kobold]

The past 20 years have been a roller-coaster ride for RPGs.  The release of Magic: The Gathering in 1993 changed the fundamental nature of the hobby gaming industry and forever altered the business of making and selling RPGs.  Explore the recent history of the category through the lens of Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, and hear predictions for the future of the hobby. This panel was recorded at PAX East 2014.

Panelists: Ryan Dancey [CEO, Goblinworks], Luke Peterschmidt [CEO, Fun to 11], Derek Lloyd [Owner, Battleground Games and Hobbies], Luke Crane [Tabletop Games Specialist, Kickstarter], Matt McElroy [Marketing Director, DriveThruRPG/OneBookshelf]

Do you have a great boardgame design, want to make it yourself, but have no idea how to start? Join us as we take you through the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of independent tabletop game publishing. Thomas Eliot of Sixpence Games designed, Kickstarted, manufactured, and brought to retail Professor Pugnacious, and was on the Indie Boardgame Panel at PAX AUS 2013, while Christopher Batarlis just recently finished the Kickstarter for Secrets of the Lost Tomb. Learn from our experience, good decisions, and mistakes. Plus, see the launch of Sixpence Games’ newest Kickstarter, Cultists of Cthulhu, live during the panel! This panel was recorded at PAX East 2014.

News: Caleb and I will be at Fear the Con this year! We will both be running games and attending events there. I will be at PAX East this year, as part of Pixelscopic, showing off their new game, Delver’s Drop. (Have I mentioned I’m working on it? I totally am!) Also, check out No Security, Caleb’s new book. I’ve also released 2 new short PDFs for Base Raiders: The Hedge Wizard and Agent Grayson.  Also, I’m back from China. You can check the RPPR Tumblr for photos (scroll down).

Synopsis: After reading the Angry DM’s article on the 8 types of fun, I thought it would be interesting to discuss our philosophies towards running games and what kind of fun we get out of it. We each give our own unique perspectives on the topic, including our GM bucket lists. We also have shout outs and an anecdote or two.

Shout Outs

Song: Load Bearing Fungus by Salkovich.

Back during Gencon 2013, Caleb and I hung out with the talented members of Posthuman Studios and talked about many a topic, including game design and the tabletop RPG industry. If there is one interview you listen to this year, make it this one!

Caleb recorded a panel discussion  at Gencon 2013 about Arc Dream’s One Roll Engine games, from Godlike to Better Angels, led by Shane Ivey. Find out what’s going with the system and how it came to be.

Thanks to Crazon for the art!

Synopsis: After the conclusion of our Night’s Black Agents campaign, Tribes of Tokyo, we sat down to discuss what went right and what went wrong. I talk about my inspiration for the campaign, including the Long Vaults. Caleb, Aaron, and Tom describe their experiences playing the game, including their critique of Night’s Black Agents as a game.

News: Hebanon Games is proud to present the print version of No Security! Get your copy today.

Synopsis: The nuts and bolts of any game are, well, the nuts and bolts. Creating and balancing game mechanics is a tricky business, especially with a brand new system. Caleb and I discuss our thoughts on designing new game mechanics in connection with Caleb’s game-in-progress, Red Markets. Enjoy!