This episode’s topic is HORROR. Horror is one of the oldest RPG genres and has wrapped its tentacles around much of modern tabletop game play, but what is it? What makes an RPG horror in tone, mechanics, or gameplay? Are horror games scary? Should they be? Can they be? All this and more on this episode of RPG XRAY.

Appendix X Links

• Dave the Diver
• Gods Teeth
• Gravity Falls
• Road Trip
• The Laundry Files
• The Rook
• Espresso Chalet

This episode’s topic is MYSTERIES. What does investigative gaming look like in table top RPGS? Are all RPGs mystery games at their heart? Are there games which appear to be detective and mystery oriented that aren’t mystery games at all? What is great play when it comes to mystery games?  Hopefully you come out of this episode with clues that you can use in your own mystery gaming.

Appendix X for this episode:

• ChatGPT
• Redfall
• Far Cry 5
• Invisible Cities
• Notes on Blood Meridian
• Blood Meridian

In this episode we talk FICTION. Specifically how do fiction and mechanics interact in role playing games. This is a broad topic and there’s a lot of ground to cover. From Clocks to Metacurrencies to Resolution systems, we’re diving deep but hopefully bringing it back to how these concepts can be applied at your own table.

Appendix X References:

• Twenty Thousand Herz [Podcast]
• Audio Commentary Tracks [Audio]
• An Immense World [Book]
• The Wager [Book]
• Return of The Obra Dinn [Video Game]

In this episode, we discuss failure in role playing games. Unlike video or board games, tabletop RPG scenarios are rarely replayed, making failure more significant, final and problematic. Excessive failure can create an adversarial game, while too little tension can result in dull gameplay. Join us as we explore how to grab the tiger by the tail and use failure as a tool to enhance gameplay.

Appendix X References:

• The Making of the Atomic Bomb[Book]
• Alien Series[Film]
• Gibson's Alien 3[Audiobook]
• Dishonored 2[Video Game]
• Murderbot [DiariesBook]
• How to sell a haunted house[Book]

In our inaugural episode 1 we talk about the most critical factor at the RPG table: fun. What is it? How do we bring the most fun to every game we play? What is the relationship between fun and difficulty? Do different players experience fun differently? All this and more, coming up on RPG Xray.

Appendix X References:

• Disco Elysium [Video Game]
• Only Yesterday [Book]
• Game Wizards [Book]
• Road Warden [Road Warden]
• Citizen Sleeper [Video Game]